Pedestrian Bridge Updates


Update #6: 3/18/18 at 5 p.m.

  • FIU classes resume Monday
  • 8th Street closed from 107th Avenue to 117th Avenue indefinitely; all 8thStreet entrances to MMC are closed
  • Moment of silence at 1:47 p.m. Monday
  • All parking lots and garages are open except Lot 5

Dear members of the university community:

While operationally Monday will be a regular day at FIU, life on MMC will be far from normal. As a university community we continue to grieve the victims of the pedestrian bridge accident.

Southwest 8th Street will be closed indefinitely, which will present many traffic challenges.

Please read the information below, be patient and kind to your fellow Panthers as we work through this difficult time.

FIU is open, classes will take place as scheduled. Unless notified otherwise, events will proceed as scheduled.

Traffic and Transportation

  • Southwest 8th Street is closed between 107th Avenue and 117th Avenue while crews work to clear the bridge debris. The only access points to campus are on the east and west sides. Please remember that the Fair is going on next door at Tamiami Park, although it is not open Monday or Tuesday. Expect traffic congestion.
  • The eastbound exits from the Florida Turnpike are closed. Use Southwest 40thStreet or Northwest 12th Street exits.
  • Allow additional time for travel and carpool whenever possible. RideFlag is a carpooling app that can help you find a ride with other Panthers who live near you. Additionally, commuters are encouraged to use the FIU mobile app for garage parking space availability.
  • Supervisors, if you have staff and faculty members who can work from home, we encourage you to allow this temporary work arrangement in order to reduce traffic.
  • All parking garages and lots at MMC are open, except for Lot 5, which is currently under contract with the Fair.
  • For access to the west side of campus, we recommend using Southwest 117th Avenue and Southwest 17th Street or Southwest 11th Street entrances. For access to the east side of campus, we recommend using Southwest 107th Avenue and Southwest 16th Street.
  • Vehicles will be able to exit the south side of campus onto Coral Way (Southwest 24th Street) through Lot 24 (small lot located east of the Riccardo Silva Stadium).
  • CATS shuttles will have a temporary new route. The 109th Tower and 4th Street Commons shuttles will be running 24 hours a day until further notice.
  • Additional shuttles will run directly from 109th Tower and 4th Street Commons to Lot 3

Support

  • Counseling resources for students are available through Counseling and Psychological Services in the Student Health Center, caps.fiu.edu, 305-348-2277.
  • Resources for faculty and staff are available through the Office of Employee Assistance, oea.fiu.edu, 305-348-2469, or via email at oea@fiu.edu to schedule an appointment. FIU Health also is offering free mental health and counseling services for faculty, staff and the community at the Faculty Group Practice at 885 SW 109th Ave. #131, 305-348-3627. You can call ahead or walk in.
  • Employees who have been directly impacted by this tragic incident and feel the need to take time off, please notify your immediate supervisor for approval.

How you can participate

  • On Monday, March 19, at 1:47 p.m. we will have a moment of silence to remember the lives lost. Please join from wherever you are at that moment.
  • A blood drive will take place on Tuesday, March 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Lot 33 (adjacent to the Graham Center Ballrooms).
  • The Student Government Association has scheduled a vigil at 10 a.m. on Wednesday in the Graham Center ballrooms. Anyone who would like to leave flowers or other items in remembrance of the victims can do so after the vigil near the billboards located on Southwest 107th Avenue and 8th Street.

Media on Campus

  • Please note that media may be on campus. Please direct them to the Office of Media Relations, 305-348-2232, for up-to-date information.

Please continue to check newsarchives.fiu.edu for updates.

For answers to frequently asked questions, please click here.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.


Update #5: 3/17/18 at 8 p.m.

Dear FIU family,

Our hearts break for the victims of the bridge collapse. Lives have been lost. Futures and families shattered.

I have met family members and friends of the victims. My heart goes out to them. There is nothing I can say to ease their pain but we are putting our arms around them and doing everything in our power to support them.

Even as we grieve, we all have an interest in getting to the bottom of what happened. This effort is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in a full and comprehensive investigation. FIU is cooperating fully with this investigation and working closely with government authorities.

We are also forever grateful to the first responders – including some of our own doctors, students and others who rushed to the scene – and the dozens of others who came to assist. I am particularly moved by the men and women who have worked around the clock to recover the victims.

It will take time for our community to heal.

As a first step, on Monday, we will have a moment of silence at 1:47 p.m. Please join us wherever you are.

Sincerely,

 

 

Mark B. Rosenberg
President


Update #4: 3/16/18 at 7 p.m. 

  • FIU operations normal
  • FIU entrances on 8th street remain closed
  • Classes resume Monday – allow extra time for commute
  • SGA to hold vigil on Wednesday; memorial location identified
  • Counseling available for faculty, staff, students and community

Dear members of the university community,

We appreciate your patience as we move forward in the aftermath of the 8th Street pedestrian bridge collapse.

At this time, FIU operations remain normal. However, 8th Street remains closed from 107th Avenue to 117th Avenue. As students return to class on Monday, please allow extra time for your commute so you can arrive to class or work on time.

Here are important details to keep in mind:

  • The eastbound exit from the Turnpike also is closed. Please use the Northwest 12th Street exit or the Southwest 40th Street exit. Please allow additional time for your commute to class or work.
  • Please note that PG4, PG5 and PG6 are closed to cars but open for any scheduled classes, events or activities. Please avoid the area unless you have a class or are participating in an event. Please park in PG 1, 2, 3 or surface lots and walk to the garages.
  • We are running shuttles between Lot 3 (in front of the SASC building) and the 4th Street Commons building in Sweetwater. Shuttles will run every 20 minutes on Sunday, March 18, from noon to 10 p.m.

We have counseling resources available for students, faculty and staff. Students who feel affected by this tragedy should reach out to Counseling and Psychological Services, 305-348-2277, or Student Clinical Services, 305-348-2401. Faculty and staff can reach out to the Office of Employee Assistance, 305-348-2469, or e-mail oea@fiu.edu to schedule an appointment. FIU Health also is offering free mental health and counseling services for faculty, staff and the community at the Faculty Group Practice at 885 SW 109th Ave. #131, 305-348-3627. You can call ahead or walk-in.

The FIU Center for Children and Families is offering free individual consultations for any families with children who may have been affected by the bridge collapse. Call 305-348-0477 to schedule an appointment.

Faculty and staff who have been directly impacted and feel the need to take time off, please notify your immediate supervisor.

The Student Government Association (SGA) is planning a vigil to bring together the university community at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 21, in the Graham Center Ballrooms.

Anyone who would like to leave flowers or other items in remembrance of the victims, can do so after the vigil, near the billboards located on Southwest 107thAvenue and 8th Street.

Please continue to check newsarchives.fiu.edu for updates.

For answers to frequently asked questions, please click here.


Update #3: 3/15/18 at 10:45 p.m. 

  • FIU campuses open on Friday
  • SW 8 Street is closed from 107 Ave to 117 Ave. Enter campus from east and west entrances

Dear members of the university community:

Today is a dark day in our history.

Just five days ago, we stood on SW 8th Street, united in celebration. Tonight we grieve for all the victims of the bridge collapse.

The bridge that was being built was about collaboration, hope, opportunity, and determination. 

About strength and unity. About being good neighbors. About goodness. Not sadness. 

Now we are feeling immense sadness.

Our hearts go out to all those affected, their families and friends.

The university will be open on Friday. However here are some important details to keep in mind:

  • SW 8th Street, from 107th Avenue to 117th Avenue is closed until further notice.
  • The eastbound exit from the Turnpike also is closed. Please use the NW 12th Street exit or the SW 40th Street exit. Please allow for additional time for your commute to work.
  • Please note that PG4, PG5 and PG6 are closed to cars but open for any scheduled events or activities. Please park in PG 1, 2, 3 or surface lots and walk to the garages.
  • We are running shuttles between Lot 3 (in front of the SASC building) and the 4th Street Commons building in Sweetwater. Shuttles will run every 20 minutes according to the following schedule:

Friday, March 16 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The shuttle will not run on Saturday, March 17.

Sunday, March 18, from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

We have counseling resources available for students, faculty and staff. Students who feel affected by this tragedy, should reach out to Counseling and Psychological Services. Faculty and staff can reach out to the Office of Employee Assistance, 305-348-2469, or e-mail oea@fiu.edu to schedule an appointment.

The FIU Center for Children and Families is offering free individual consultations for any families with children who may have been affected by the bridge collapse. Call 305-348-0477 to schedule an appointment.

Faculty and staff who have been directly impacted and feel the need to take time off, please notify your immediate supervisor.

We should take comfort in the fact that even on this dark day, there were glimmers of light. Our FIU doctors, nurses and medical students rushed to the scene as soon as they heard the collapse. They checked on many who were hurt and offered life-saving aid before rescue crews arrived.

There will be more difficult days ahead, but even as we mourn and reflect, there is still goodness and hope in this world.

Please keep everyone affected by this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,

Mark B. Rosenberg

President


Update #2: 3/15/18 at 5 p.m. President Rosenberg addresses the community after bridge collapse

Dear FIU family,

I am heartbroken at the news of the collapse of the pedestrian bridge on 8th Street and the resulting devastation. We send our deepest condolences to the victims and their families.

We are working with the appropriate agencies to assist in rescue efforts.

As soon as we have further information, we will share it with you. Please keep the victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,

Mark B. Rosenberg
President


Update #1: 3/15/18 at 2:37 p.m.

Bridge Update #1: Bridge collapses, university community shocked and saddened

Senior FIU leaders released the following statement:

We are shocked and saddened about the tragic events unfolding at the FIU-Sweetwater pedestrian bridge. At this time we are still involved in rescue efforts and gathering information. We are working closely with authorities and first responders on the scene. We will share updates as we have them.

 

This post was originally published 3/15/18 at 2:37 p.m.