Florida International University Pedestrian Bridge Project Overview
On March 15, a 174-foot-long, 950-ton pedestrian bridge connecting Florida International University (FIU) to Sweetwater, Florida, collapsed during its construction. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the cause of the collapse. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT’s) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Division office is on site to assist the NTSB with their investigation.
The FIU Pedestrian Bridge is one part of a multi-modal, pedestrian-orientated improvement project called the University City Prosperity Project, which was awarded $11.4 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant in 2013. The 2013 TIGER grant agreement was awarded on June 5, 2014, and amended on January 12, 2016, and again on December 11, 2017.
The pedestrian bridge was intended to improve pedestrian safety and to link the City of Sweetwater with FIU over the heavily traveled US 41. It was erected on March 10, 2018 when the main span was lifted from temporary supports and rotated 90 degrees across an eight-lane road. At approximately 1:45 p.m. on March 15, 2018, the pedestrian bridge tragically collapsed. The pedestrian bridge was still under construction and not open to pedestrian traffic.
The pedestrian bridge is a design-build project and used Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC), a construction method which has been widely used for more than two decades by the industry. ABC is the use of prefabricated road and bridge elements as a means to improve worker safety and overall quality, and reduce inconvenience to the public. For more information, link here.
Florida International University is a University Transportation Center, which makes it eligible for specialized federal funding related to the safe, efficient and environmentally sound movement of goods and people. UTCs work with regional, state, local and tribal transportation agencies to help find solutions to challenges that directly impact their communities and affect the efficiency of the nation’s transportation system.
The contract was awarded to Florida International University. As is required of all federally-aided projects, the FHWA conducted an environmental review, which resulted in a “categorical exclusion” – which means there was no environmental impact anticipated with this project.
Through our role as a partner in the federal/state partnership, USDOT can provide various types of technical support to its partners when asked. TIGER grant recipients are responsible for the actual planning, design, construction and maintenance of their projects.
Project Funding:
Tiger Grant – USDOT | $11,397,120 |
Transportation Alternatives – FHWA | $2,214,002 |
State Funds – Florida DOT | $60,000 |
Local Funds – City of Sweetwater | $1,991,061 |
Other Funds – Florida International University | $3,729,013 |
Total | $19,391,196 |
Actions by USDOT Since March 15, 2018
Secretary Chao dispatched the Federal Highway Administration Division office to the site to assist NTSB with their investigation.
Secretary Chao has been closely monitoring the situation and has been in contact with Governor Scott, Senator Rubio, Senator Nelson and Congressman Diaz-Balart as well as Mark Rosenberg, President of Florida International University.