FIU pedestrian bridge collapses, killing several

Collapse occurred at Southwest 109th Avenue and Eighth Street

The bridge after it collapsed on Thursday afternoon (Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The bridge after it collapsed on Thursday afternoon (Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

UPDATED, 3:47 p.m., March 15: The Florida International University pedestrian bridge under construction on Southwest Eighth Street collapsed on Thursday afternoon, crushing cars and killing several people.

The collapse occurred at Southwest 109th Avenue and Eighth Street, according to multiple news reports. The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed there were multiple deaths, 7 News Miami reported.

Crews lowered the 174-foot, 950-ton section of bridge into position on Saturday using Accelerated Bridge Construction methods, a quicker construction process that is intended to reduce risks to workers, commuters and pedestrians. The street was reopened to traffic on Monday. Munilla Construction Management is building the 289-foot-long bridge, which was expected to be completed early next year. It was 109 feet tall and 32 feet wide, according to a press release.

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FIGG Bridge Engineers designed the bridge.  Barnhart Crane and Rigging operated the transporters that placed the bridge on its permanent supports.

In a news release, FIU said it was “shocked and saddened about the tragic events unfolding at the FIU-Sweetwater pedestrian bridge” and was still gathering information about the accident. MCM said in a statement on Twitter that the company “will conduct a full investigation to determine exactly what went wrong and we will cooperate with investigators on scene in every way.”

The $14 million bridge was also slated to connect to University Bridge Residences, a student rental development planned for the northwest corner of that intersection. [Local 10] — Amanda Rabines

This is a developing story.