FL - Pedestrian bridge collapses at Florida International University, Miami, 2018

[bluedivergirl]

The company I work for is a contractor for our county govt, most of the school districts in our pretty large, densely populated county, and last but not least, a very large state university. You would be surprised the construction projects that get approved on a regular basis. Besides the regular repair and maintenance contract we have with the university, we do *very expensive* construction projects. Every single payment we receive comes from the state comptroller.

Honestly, I am not sure who even would have approved such a project. But when we were talking about it today at work, we think that either an architect speced the project incorrectly, or the contractor cut corners big time (the more likely scenario in our opinion).

I can’t blame families for suing. Someone dropped the ball. BIG TIME.

I worked for an architect for many years.

In my experience, the structural engineer would have the greatest role in a project like this. Human error is possible, but the structural engineers I knew were very careful, detail oriented people.They would quadruple check everything, and they delivered their portion of specs to us. I would simply change the formatting to match.

My eye is on the contractor as well. Was their a bonus for early delivery?

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Well about 75% of bridge was federally funded through grants. I'd like to know who is benefitting on the other side of road that this bridge gave better access to. Who owns land there and is planning to build more apts/condo's for
the 55,000 students at FIU. worth looking into. But this is Miami, nothing surprises me.

Is this an example of the "pork barrel" projects we hear about?

 

[Satchie]

Is this an example of the "pork barrel" projects we hear about?

Just speaking as someone who worked in a university: with long term projects like this, a university can't afford to appear allied with one political party. It's been five years since the TIGER grant was awarded, there's been a complete regime change, and from a university's point of view, a big project needs to be just as enthusiastically supported by Republicans as by Democrats, which this one was, based on the various press releases.

Prestigious universities are big drivers of economic growth for an area, especially if they attract foreign students, like students from China, who's parents often will pay extra high fees and buy a new luxury condo for their child to live in while they attend university. Good faculty attract big research grants, successful alumni will donate big endowments, respected departments will host massive conferences, etc.

Having a 'state of the art' campus, with dramatic architecture, is one way universities compete with each other to attract the best faculty and students. This university apparently started as a low cost local college, but is in the process of transforming itself into a highly regarded 'Internationnal' university.

So this was not just a quick and dirty walkway, it was a very ambitious project. It was 32 feet wide because it included seating areas, and included entrance plazas to create large spaces for students to gather, meet, study. It used various new methods of construction to be 'cutting edge' and a 'signature project'. It costs a lot of money, but the benefits to the region, in terms of bringing in outside money, would be equally large.

You have to be persistent in wading through the current news, but pre-collapse material can be found.

https://news.fiu.edu/2016/03/fiu-sweetwater-break-ground-for-bridge-to-the-future/98724

https://news.fiu.edu/2018/03/commun...ridge-move-across-southwest-8th-street/120395

 

[smoghat]

Taught 20 years in architecture schools so I think I have some idea… (YMMV).

1. Universities do things for flash now, to attract attention, e.g. funding and students. I think that was at root of this project and it's failure.
2. FIU always struck me as a cut rate institution, which exploits faculty as much as it can. I imagine this was the same.
3. How the hell does anyone think it's ok to tension cables on the walkway withot blocking the road? After all, the main support tower that was supposed to take the forces hadn't even been built.

 

[fred&edna]

Here's a cache'd version of the bid/requests for proposal for "the Project" and lists the required qualifications

"... including a new pedestrian bridge, complete streets, and other pedestrian-oriented transit access improvements."

https://webcache.googleusercontent....es.asp?ID=16874040+&cd=19&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us



And, here's a link to the Design Criteria (dated April 2015) mentioned in the document above.

Page 8 lists "Specification And References" including FDOT, AASHTO, FHWA, building codes, etc. (required per this design)

http://facilities.fiu.edu/projects/BT_904/FIU-Pedestrian-Bridge-Design-Criteria-2015-05-06_REV.pdf

 

[smoghat]

Just ask yourself... if a critical support structure (a tower carrying cables) has not been built, is it ok to mess with the structural integrityof a bridge while cars are passing below? I wouldn’t say so!!

 

[gregjrichards]

Just ask yourself... if a critical support structure (a tower carrying cables) has not been built, is it ok to mess with the structural integrityof a bridge while cars are passing below? I wouldn’t say so!!

I know the stupidity of it is absolutely dumbfounding.

 

[Betty P]

Just ask yourself... if a critical support structure (a tower carrying cables) has not been built, is it ok to mess with the structural integrityof a bridge while cars are passing below? I wouldn’t say so!!

The disdain by some for following regulations and safety guidelines is troubling. These people should know better. It's similar to the recent grand jury findings of the Schlitterbahn water park investigation, a shocking display of negligence and disregard for public safety.

https://www.news5cleveland.com/news...in-death-of-child-on-schlitterbahn-waterslide

Safety regulations ignored, injuries covered up, experts overseeing the design and operation of the ride who didn't have sufficient qualifications. All this was done to get the project finished as quickly as possible to capitalize on a public relations campaign. Sound familiar?

The indictment draws from internal Schlitterbahn emails, blueprints, videos, interviews and eyewitness statements to paint a picture of a company that sidestepped consideration of Verruckt's safety so it could quickly build a thrill ride to gain publicity for its KCK park.

Evidence of speed taking priority over safety. They were racing to complete it in time to have it featured on some reality tv shows.

The indictment also cites passages from internal emails written by Henry.

"Time is of the essence. No time to die," Henry wrote in a Dec. 14, 2012, email to Schooley. "I have to micro manage this. NOW. This is a designed product for TV, absolutely cannot be anything else. Speed is 100% required. A floor a day. Tough schedule."

http://www.kansascity.com/news/article206605804.html


I wonder if the speed and carelessness associated with the bridge collapse was related to someone wanting to rush the project to completion to meet some arbitrary deadline or capitalize on some pr campaign?

 

[enelram]

The disdain by some for following regulations and safety guidelines is troubling. These people should know better. It's similar to the recent grand jury findings of the Schlitterbahn water park investigation, a shocking display of negligence and disregard for public safety.

https://www.news5cleveland.com/news...in-death-of-child-on-schlitterbahn-waterslide

Safety regulations ignored, injuries covered up, experts overseeing the design and operation of the ride who didn't have sufficient qualifications. All this was done to get the project finished as quickly as possible to capitalize on a public relations campaign. Sound familiar?



Evidence of speed taking priority over safety. They were racing to complete it in time to have it featured on some reality tv shows.



http://www.kansascity.com/news/article206605804.html


I wonder if the speed and carelessness associated with the bridge collapse was related to someone wanting to rush the project to completion to meet some arbitrary deadline or capitalize on some pr campaign?

Often construction projects like this have a lucrative cash bonus if the project is completed early or on time.

FIU is a local school, rated 261 st in country. Not a school that would be 1st, 2nd, or 10th choice for competent
Florida students.

 

[jjenny]

I don't have a problem with FIU trying to build a bridge. Crossing the road is dangerous. Obviously there was a problem with the execution, though.

 

[Thyme]

Not sure if anyone has seen this video. According to a Canadian youtuber a single snapped tension cable spotted at the site is the cause of the bridge collapse. Warning for those with sensitive ears....there are some expletives. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtiTm2dKLgU

 

[Eloise]

I worked for an architect for many years.

In my experience, the structural engineer would have the greatest role in a project like this. Human error is possible, but the structural engineers I knew were very careful, detail oriented people.They would quadruple check everything, and they delivered their portion of specs to us. I would simply change the formatting to match.

My eye is on the contractor as well. Was their a bonus for early delivery?

Especially because apparently they had the permission to close the road. They just didn't. Too much effort?

 

[fred&edna]

Maybe this was posted previously (sorry if so). This pdf is MCM/Figg's 2015 proposal/plans - which includes an estimated timeline for each step of construction (starts at page 44-45)

I haven't studied it enough to determine if they were behind/ahead of schedule... and I guess it's possible the schedule changed since this proposal??

https://facilities.fiu.edu/projects/BT_904/MCM_FIGG_Proposal_for_FIU_Pedestrian_Bridge_9-30-2015.pdf

 

[gregjrichards]

Especially because apparently they had the permission to close the road. They just didn't. Too much effort?

They would have had to pay every day the road was closed and obviously didn't want to.

 

[gregjrichards]

More lawsuits have been filed in the aftermath of a pedestrian bridge collapse near a Florida university campus.

The Miami Herald reports that a 19-year-old who was a passenger in an SUV crushed by a slab of concrete filed a lawsuit on Thursday against several companies involved in the bridge's construction near Florida International University.

The teen, Richard Humble, was riding in an SUV driven by FIU student Alexa Duran, 18, on the tragic day.

He managed to escape but she did not survive.

Duran's family also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Munilla Construction Management, Figg Bridge Engineers and other subcontractors on the project on Friday.

Their attorney, Alan Goldfarb, said the companies involved in the bridge project were 'reckless' and tried to speed along a delayed project by squeezing more work into the spring break window when students were away.

The fact traffic remained open while tests were performed on the bridge is mentioned repeatedly in the suit.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...pedestrian-bridge-collapse.html#ixzz5BMVJ9OEO

 

[gregjrichards]

“Richie Humble says flashbacks and anxiety attacks have haunted him ever since a pedestrian bridge near a Florida university fell on the car he was riding in, killing six people including his best friend who was driving their vehicle.

Humble said Monday that the collapse caused a fracture in his back, along with knee and neck problems. But he said his mental health has caused him to abandon all but one of his classes at Florida International University.

The 19-year-old FIU sophomore filed a negligence lawsuit last week against several companies involved in the bridge's construction, the latest of a series of suits by injured survivors or victims' families.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...backs-anxiety-one-survivor.html#ixzz5BdRltisz

 

[SeesSeas]

State asks judge to block release of records that might show why FIU bridge collapsed
State asks judge to block release of records that might show why FIU bridge collapsed
The Miami Herald sued after trying for two months to get the agency to release documents that could shed light on the tragic accident.
June 4, 2018
The Florida Department of Transportation went to court Monday in an attempt to keep the public and the news media from examining records that might reveal what caused the bridge collapse that killed six people at Florida International University in March.

The agency asked Leon County Circuit Court Judge John Cooper to dismiss a lawsuit by the Miami Herald to compel the state to turn over emails, meeting minutes and other records relating to the bridge's design and construction.

The Miami Herald sued after trying for two months to get the agency to release documents that could shed light on the tragic accident.

FDOT has stated that the records are public documents but has refused to release them, arguing that a federal law that shields the release of documents relating to a National Transportation Safety Board investigation preempts the Florida public records law.
[...]

 

[CARIIS]

State asks judge to block release of records that might show why FIU bridge collapsed
State asks judge to block release of records that might show why FIU bridge collapsed
The Miami Herald sued after trying for two months to get the agency to release documents that could shed light on the tragic accident.
June 4, 2018
The Florida Department of Transportation went to court Monday in an attempt to keep the public and the news media from examining records that might reveal what caused the bridge collapse that killed six people at Florida International University in March.

The agency asked Leon County Circuit Court Judge John Cooper to dismiss a lawsuit by the Miami Herald to compel the state to turn over emails, meeting minutes and other records relating to the bridge's design and construction.

The Miami Herald sued after trying for two months to get the agency to release documents that could shed light on the tragic accident.

FDOT has stated that the records are public documents but has refused to release them, arguing that a federal law that shields the release of documents relating to a National Transportation Safety Board investigation preempts the Florida public records law.
[...]

IMO that is just absurd the public has the right to know govt has to get out of this hide everything from the public mode

that is not how this is supposed to work

all our society has become is lawsuit city

and people seem to think that suing and winning means something

one can get a judgement but getting the bucks is a totally diff deal !!

if they are suing big entities they don't see any money for decades of BS

moo

 

[MaryG12]

Videos show workers on Florida bridge before collapse

Note: the video at the link shows the bridge collapsing in action

 

[SeesSeas]

Firm behind Miami bridge that collapsed announces bankruptcy
March 3, 2019
MIAMI (AP) — The contractor that built a pedestrian bridge that collapsed and killed six people last year in Miami is filing for bankruptcy protection.
[...]
The company is being sued by survivors and victims’ families.