NTSB studying cracks in Miami pedestrian bridge that collapsed
Cracks in the north and south ends of the pedestrian bridge that collapsed in Miami March 15th are being scrutinized by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in its ongoing investigation of the incident. One bridge worker and five other people - occupants of crushed cars - were killed when the 174-foot-long bridge fell onto an eight-lane street below. Four bridge workers and four other people were injured.
The bridge was to be completed by early 2019 and was built using an accelerated bridge construction method—a technique intended to minimize disruption of traffic. On March 10, 2018, the walkway, diagonals, and canopy comprising the bridge, which had been built in a lot adjacent to SW 8th Street, was moved from the lot, using transporters, into position across the roadway and then lowered onto bridge piers on either side of the roadway (figure 2).[2] Traffic on SW 8th Street was detoured during the installation period, and the entire roadway was closed to facilitate movement of the structure.