5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ACCELERATED BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION

The a 950-ton pedestrian bridge that collapsed Thursday at Florida International University in MiamiDade County used an innovative technique called “Accelerated Bridge Construction.”

HOW IT WORKS

The method, which has become more common the past decade, is meant to reduce risks and interruptions to traffic, pedestrians and workers. ABC projects are constructed offsite and moved to the site to be put together and anchored in place.

THE CAUSE

The cause is under investigation, but authorities said Friday that cables were being tightened when it collapsed. Andy Hermann, a former president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, told ABC News:“It could be materials, it could be construction technique, it could be the engineering design itself.”

COMPLETION DATE

The 170-foot, $14.2 million bridge, over six lanes of traffic, was put into place last week, taking less than six hours. The project was expected to be completed in 2019.

UNIVERSITY’S ROLE

FIU’s engineering school has become a hub for accelerated bridge construction training and research in recent years. It has drawn 4,000 people to its webinars since launching in 2011, according to a center website.

CONSTRUCTION TEAM

— INFORMATION FROM WSB-TV, ABC NEWS, THE PALM BEACH POST, MIAMI HERALD AND THE SUN SENTINEL WAS USED IN COMPILING THIS REPORT