‘Key design change’ for bridge that collapsed in Miami
The bridge tower was the focal point of an architectural centrepiece for the university that connected it to the nearby community of Sweetwater.
Construction of the pedestrian bridge that collapsed and killed six people in the Miami area was behind schedule and millions over budget, in part because of a key change in the design of its main support tower.
Documents obtained by The Associated Press show the Florida Department of Transportation in October 2016 ordered Florida International University and its contractors to move the bridge’s main pylon 11 feet north to the edge of a canal, widening the gap between the crossing’s supports and requiring new structural design.
The bridge tower was the focal point of an architectural centrepiece for the university that connected it to the nearby community of Sweetwater.
It is unclear if the design change contributed to the collapse, but documents show it pushed the project behind schedule, and some officials worried that delays could jeopardize federal funding.
