Pedestrian Bridge Update #6: All garages open March 19 except Lot 5, moment of silence


Update #6: 3/18/18 at 5 p.m.

  • FIU classes resume Monday
  • 8th Street closed from 107th Avenue to 117th Avenue indefinitely; all 8th Street 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.

Click here to read previous updates regarding the pedestrian bridge.