Photos Show Cracks in FIU Pedestrian Bridge Weeks Before Deadly Collapse

Photos acquired by one local newspaper appear to show a crack in the pedestrian bridge near the campus of FIU just 10 days before it was raised into position – only to come crashing down a week later, killing six people.

The Miami Herald published photos of the cracks that were unintentionally sent by the school to the paper in response to a public records request.

The cracks were seen in the same area where independent engineers say the collapse first occurred on the north side of the 950 ton bridge that spanned across Southwest 8th Street near 109th Avenue.

Three independent engineers told the paper the cracks were a red flag signalling potentially critical structural problems. Crews were working on repairing the cracks when the structure collapsed on March 15th.

The February 28th memo came from a consulting engineer from the school who said one of the cracks “merits special attention” and for there to be a response to the situation.

That memo was sent out to the engineer from FIGG Bridge Group, the designers of the bridge, as well as a project manager from Munilla Construction Management, a Miami based company who built the bridge, among others.

The documents did not indicate whether construction crews repaired the cracks before the failure.

The National Transportation Safety Board, who is currently leading the investigation into the collapse, has told the school and the Florida Department of Transportation not to release records after February 19th.

The collapse is also part of an open homicide investigation as well as lawsuits from victims of the tragedy, including families of those who died as well as those who were injured.