How big a role did state play in FIU bridge? Gov. Scott denies any, but records cast doubt

[RockaFowler]

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article220294730.html

As Gov. Rick Scott seeks election to the U.S. Senate, the Florida Department of Transportation has consistently distanced the state from a fatal bridge collapse outside Miami — but its explanations have been contradicted as more information becomes public.

The governor’s administration has said its role in the Florida International University bridge, which collapsed March 15, was limited to issuing traffic permits, conducting a “routine preliminary review” and acting as a “pass-through” for federal funding. It also said an FDOT engineer was unable to listen to a voice message describing cracks that were forming at the structure’s north end because he was out of the office on assignment. The message was left by one of the bridge’s private contractors two days before the newly built span fell onto Southwest Eighth Street, killing six people.

In fact, the FDOT engineer, Thomas Andres, was present in the office on March 15, according to a copy of his calendar obtained by the Miami Herald through a public-records request and first reported by television station NBC6.

[Lochloosa]

1. My company does DOT work here in FL. You can bet your sweet ass there were inspectors on this job.

You don't step foot on DOT state roads without a state inspector there, much less build a bridge across one.

Also, we work everywhere in the state except Dade county. The corruption there is so bad we can't put enough bribe money in our bids.

[genxlib]

2. Two things

There was an FDOT qualified CEI Inspection team on the project but they were a private company.

Second, this wasn't really on a DOT road. It was over a DOT road. I know it sounds like semantics but it makes all the difference in the world. The permit to build this bridge is really an easement to occupy space above the road. It gets reviewed by the structures department but it isn't the same kind of scrutiny that the DOT projects get.

I have been through that process because I have designed a pedestrian bridge over a DOT road in that District and had my plans reviewed by that Department (that guy if I remember correctly). I have also spent a lot of time doing post-mortem on that project. It is a long story but I have spent the better part of 4 hours in a room with 4 other engineers going through what went wrong.

As much as I would love to blame Rick Scott for this, his capability is pretty far down a very long list.

I suspect that the rules will change so that FDOT has a lot more say in the review and approval. But the process in place at the time was relatively limited.