NTSB releases preliminary report on 8th Street bridge accident


A construction crew was working on re-tensioning one of the diagonal members connecting the canopy and the deck at the north end of the pedestrian bridge when it collapsed, according to a preliminary report published May 23 by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The report does not state, however, what caused the March 15 bridge collapse, which killed six people and injured eight others.

While a full report on what went wrong is not expected for at least several months, the preliminary report on the investigation, to which FIU is a party, indicates that the NTSB is scrutinizing the bridge design, the construction process and the construction materials. The NTSB is also investigating cracks that emerged in areas near two of the bridge diagonals.

“We appreciate that progress is being made to ensure something like this never happens again. This accident has caused deep and lasting pain to families and the entire community. We look forward to the final NTSB report,” said FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg.

In the next month, the NTSB will be conducting additional forensic exams of several of the bridge’s structural components and destructive testing of multiple core and steel samples.

“All aspects of the collapse remain under investigation while the NTSB determines the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar events,” said the report.

The bridge, which spanned 174 feet across S.W. 8th Street, was to be completed by early 2019.

To access the full preliminary report, click here.