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Investigation into FIU bridge collapse that killed 6 people finds major design errors

The errors resulted in the overestimation of the capacity of a critical section of the bridge and an underestimation of the demand on that same section.
Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department personel and other rescue units work at the scene where a pedestrian bridge collapsed at Florida International University on March 15, 2018.

MIAMI, Fla. -- An update to the investigation into the Florida International University bridge collapse found two critical errors in the design of the bridge.

A report from the National Transportation Safety Board said its assessment determined that "errors were made in the design of the northernmost nodal region of the 174-foot" pedestrian bridge over the university in Miami.

More: FIU mourns victims of bridge collapse in Miami

Previous: FDOT: Cracking was noticed on FIU bridge two days before collapse

The design errors resulted in an overestimation of the capacity of a section of the bridge and an underestimation of the demand on that same section.

The Federal Highway Association evaluation also found that the cracking observed before the collapse was consistent with the errors.

On March 15, 2018, the recently-erected pedestrian bridge crossing over SW 8th Street in Miami collapsed, crushing eight vehicles stopped underneath it and killing six people.

Photos released in August showed the bridge had cracks before it collapsed. Authorities said the bridge had been put to a stress test and its cables were being tightened when it collapsed.

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