Remnants of collapsed FIU bridge removed, designs for new bridge underway

Construction astatine Florida International University started Monday to demolish the remnants of the span that collapsed and killed six people, and injured respective others.

On March 15, 2018, the span astatine Southwest 8th Street and Southwest 109th Avenue came crashing down.

"I was a small spot frightened due to the fact that I was coming for freshman year, truthful I was beauteous scared. I was like, wow, things are falling," said pupil Kelley Aviles.

According to a property merchandise from the Florida Department of Transportation, removing the remnants volition let for a survey of the onshore truthful a caller span tin beryllium built.

FDOT says during operation connected the FIU field side, 1 extracurricular eastbound lane connected SW 8th thoroughfare approaching 109th avenue volition beryllium closed Monday done Friday from 9 americium to 3:30 pm.

Students who’ve been walking crossed the engaged 8^th thoroughfare accidental the caller span would marque it easier and safer to get to class.

"I deliberation it’ll beryllium precise adjuvant due to the fact that adjacent crossing the thoroughfare takes a batch of time, and cars sometimes don’t adjacent care. Even erstwhile I'm crossing the street, cars inactive come," said Shayanne Boulet.

"Traffic is truly bad, and sometimes we person 20 seconds to cross, you person to tally to class, you’ll miss it, and past you person to hold 20 minutes [for the adjacent light]," said Aviles.

FDOT, FIU, and the City of Sweetwater are designing the caller bridge. Construction is expected to commencement successful 2023.

Melissa Marrero astatine WSFL archetypal reported this story.