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

[Betty P]

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article205698704.html

This article is a must read. Lots of information.


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This quote from the article is troubling and may explain some things:

Bolton Perez & Associates was hired to conduct construction engineering inspections. But the university remains “exempt from local building code and local jurisdictions,” said Charlie Danger, Miami-Dade County’s retired building chief. “It’s a good thing to have another set of eyes there. It may have helped.”

Why would public officials allow the university to be exempt from local building codes and regulatory oversight? Why would they make them an exception when they have facilities used so extensively by the public. You would think that they should be subject to standard building codes.

 

[enelram]

This quote from the article is troubling and may explain some things:



Why would public officials allow the university to be exempt from local building codes and regulatory oversight? Why would they make them an exception when they have facilities used so extensively by the public. You would think that they should be subject to standard building codes.

Good questions, Betty- I'm going to look up this law, myself.
The state of Fl. and Fed. Gov. have some culpability, IMO, since the bridge utilized air space and rights of way on sides
of a state and federal highway. I'll check this out and report back.
Lots and lots of denial and finger pointing that will have to be worked out in a court of law. Curious what the formal
reports will say.

 

[enelram]

CH 32 Encroachments in Public Right of Way (During Construction) Florida Law
Pedestrian Walkway

"The installation of a pedestrian walkway OVER a public right of way SHALL be subject to the approval of the applicable
governing authority."https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/FBC2017/chapter-32-encroachments-into-the-public-right-of-way



So right there is one answer- the State of Fl. AND US GOV. are both partially liable because the roadway is both
a state and federal highway. So both should have been overseeing the construction. Also City of Miami has some
responsibility and culpability for inspections, IMO.

Now, I've never heard of a law here that releases liability of safety inspections or building codes being ignored because
the construction was done by a university. Hog wash. But I'm still doing some checking.

 

[enelram]

http://www.ehs.ufl.edu/programs/buildcode/policy/

The above relates to the U of Fl., another state school- and says all construction on school property must adhere to
and comply with Florida Building Codes and Standards.
Even though FIU probably has a Bldg. code Adm. or supervisor, there are numerous people and entities responsible
for this walkway project. And numerous people who had to sign off on inspections as work was completed.

 

[enelram]

Here's FIU Policy on Building Codes Administration. They still must adhere to Fl. Bldg. Codes and Standards but
they seem to have a self-contained office on campus for issuing permits and supervising work and inspections. They
must be doing a lot of new construction work to warrant having this type oversight instead of having the City of Miami
handle it.

http://facilities.fiu.edu/Documents/Facilities_Management/BuildingOfficialPDFs/bcap.pdf

 

[MaryG12]

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article205698704.html

This article is a must read. Lots of information.


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From the link:


“It’s not an FDOT project. It’s an FIU project,” Gov. Rick Scott said during a press conference at the university the night the bridge fell.

....................................................

BBM


That is a major red flag for me.

 

[Gardenista]

Spending $15 million on a pedestrian bridge is freaking ridiculous. Whoever approved this disaster project needed to be fired even if it didn't come crashing down. What a joke.

 

[enelram]

Spending $15 million on a pedestrian bridge is freaking ridiculous. Whoever approved this disaster project needed to be fired even if it didn't come crashing down. What a joke.

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.

 

[enelram]

From the link:


“It’s not an FDOT project. It’s an FIU project,” Gov. Rick Scott said during a press conference at the university the night the bridge fell.

....................................................

BBM


That is a major red flag for me.

Well technically it is an FIU project, however FDOT was involved as well or else why do you think they would have been at the meetings, etc. Of course FDOT is involved.

 

[Gardenista]

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.

Yes, I understand I am paying for this boondoggle. I posted this a few days ago:

Full project design info. SMDH

University Bridge in Miami, FL | Investment Opportunity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rfYISaVCFM

ETA: And people scream and yell about the cost of college. What a freaking joke.

 

[KaaBoom]

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article205698704.html

This article is a must read. Lots of information.

Damn, it didn't take them long to remove the debris. It looks like they are ready to reopen the street. I wonder how much investigation was done before they destroyed the evidence. :thinking:

 

[KinderedSpirits]

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.

You hit the nail on the head! Condos for student housing is exactly what's located on the other side of the bridge!


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[Gardenista]

Survivor of FIU bridge collapse sues design-construction firms

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article205822739.html

 

[Satchie]

Not sure whether anyone posted this article about the victims. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article205680019.html

 

[Satchie]

Survivor of FIU bridge collapse sues design-construction firms

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article205822739.html

Seems awfully premature.

I think the question of who pays for the victim's lawsuits will all come down to the question of who was responsible for closing the highway and diverting traffic.

This is what seemingly happened with the Titanic. In spite of all the problems of poor quality rivets, travelling too fast, allowing wealthy passengers to monopololize the telegraph for personal messaging, not enough life boats, etc, the person who was chiefly blamed for the disaster at the time was the captain of a nearby ship, who "should have known" what was happening and come to the passenger's rescue.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Lord

I think the question of potential design flaws/construction flaws/testing flaws, etc, will be resolved by the insurance companies in the distant mists of time.

 

[enelram]

Seems awfully premature.

I think the question of who pays for the victim's lawsuits will all come down to the question of who was responsible for closing the highway and diverting traffic.

This is what seemingly happened with the Titanic. In spite of all the problems of poor quality rivets, travelling too fast, allowing wealthy passengers to monopololize the telegraph for personal messaging, not enough life boats, etc, the person who was chiefly blamed for the disaster at the time was the captain of a nearby ship, who "should have known" what was happening and come to the passenger's rescue.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Lord

I think the question of potential design flaws/construction flaws/testing flaws, etc, will be resolved by the insurance companies in the distant mists of time.

The judge in Casey Anthony trial gave an interview on Orlando TV News- Ch 9- and said "They're smart to file the
suit right away", but I didn't hear his reasoning. Maybe to get funds before those liable run out of insurance money
to pay out. ???

 

[CARIIS]

I am always amazed at how people think suing does anything

the deeper the pocket the faster people line up

but with deep pockets come endless legal maneuvering

for decades certainly something went wrong

it will go on forever or they will file for bankruptcy

and people spend the next two decades of their lives playing the game

moo

 

[CARIIS]

Damn, it didn't take them long to remove the debris. It looks like they are ready to reopen the street. I wonder how much investigation was done before they destroyed the evidence. :thinking:

NTSB involved they are amazing!!

Nothing can be touched until they say so

 

[bears10]

Spending $15 million on a pedestrian bridge is freaking ridiculous. Whoever approved this disaster project needed to be fired even if it didn't come crashing down. What a joke.

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.

 

[gregjrichards]

Survivor of FIU bridge collapse sues design-construction firms

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article205822739.html

There are going to be a lot of lawsuits. I just hope the money goes to the deceased victims families and the injured and it isn't just a lottery windfall for the lawyers.

Thanks so much everyone for the news updates in this tragedy they have been much appreciated. I hope the survivors are getting stronger each day.