Miami’s FIU Bridge & Seattle’s Crane: What Happened & Why

Findings from investigations in two different construction tragedies were recently announced: Miami’s Florida International University bridge collapse and the Seattle, Washington, crane collapse. According to a press release from last week, the National Transportation Safety Board determined the pedestrian bridge collapse from March 2018 was due to load and capacity calculation errors made by the project engineer, FIGG Bridge Engineers Inc.

The report additionally named Louis Berger Group (a consulting engineer) responsible, due to an inadequate peer review of FIGG’s calculations. 

In Seattle, the investigation into the April 2019 crane collapse that killed four people has concluded. The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries released its report stating crews did not follow the correct procedures when dismantling the structure. This included prematurely removing pins that helped hold the crane together. Because the pins were removed, the crane was easily toppled by a 50-mph gust of wind.

The department also stressed the danger of this order of events, which may happen more than we think on jobsites because it speeds up the dismantling process. Three companies involved in the process have been cited and fined.

Down in New Orleans, Louisiana, victims of the recent Hard Rock Hotel collapse have filed 12 lawsuits  against Citadel Builders and other project partners. The lawsuits focus on all areas of the project—from design to planning and construction.