Calculation Errors and Inadequate Peer Review Led To Miami Bridge's Collapse

America's National Transportation Safety Board has now officially determined the probable causes of a Florida pedestrian bridge's collapse in March of 2018: load and capacity calculation errors made by FIGG Bridge Engineers.

Slashdot reader McGruber shares their report:

Contributing to the collapse was Louis Berger's inadequate peer review, which failed to detect FIGG's calculation errors in its design of the main span truss member 11/12 nodal region and connection to the bridge deck. The FIGG engineer of record's failure to identify the significance of structural cracking observed in this node before the collapse, and failure to obtain an independent peer review of the remedial plan to address the cracking, further contributed to the collapse...

Six of the eight lanes of the roadway traveling under the bridge were open at the time of the collapse. The failure of FIGG, MCM, Bolton Perez and Associates Consulting Engineers, FIU and the Florida Department of Transportation to cease bridge work and close SW 8th Street to protect public safety contributed to the severity of the collapse outcome, said the NTSB during the meeting.

"Errors in bridge design, inadequate peer review and poor engineering judgment led to the collapse of this bridge," said NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt. "The failure of all concerned parties, to recognize and take action on the threat to public safety presented by the significant observed bridge structure distress prior to the collapse, led to the tragic loss of life in this preventable accident."

The report also concludes that Louis Berger "was not qualified by the Florida Department of Transportation to conduct an independent peer review" -- and that Florida's Department of Transportation "should have verified Louis Berger's qualifications as an independent peer review firm as part of FDOT's oversight of local agency program projects."