Accelerated bridge design not the problem, expert says

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Time-lapse video shows the pedestrian bridge being moved into place at Florida International University. Machines rolled the 950-ton bridge that spanned 174 feet into place in a matter of hours on Saturday, days before it collapsed onto cars and people below.

"Very rarely do you have something that just collapses," Reid Castrodale, an engineering consultant, said.

Castrodale, from Concord, still believes the method in which the bridge was built could be the future. It's called an accelerated bridge construction, and he would like to see it used more often, including in places like Charlotte.

"Typically, it's simply it's a conventional construction that was done off-sight. All you're doing is moving it in quickly," Castrodale said.

Castrodale said that form of construction is perfect for situations like a current bridge build on Concord Parkway, where traffic is having to be diverted onto a temporary bridge.

"We all know that it makes congestion. It can lead to accidents," he said.

That form of bridge construction has been used for decades.

He said there were many factors to consider in Thursday’s disaster, including design, construction engineering and testing.

"It's hard for me to fathom what could have gone wrong," Castrodale said.

It was a flagship project for FIU, which hosts a bridge construction conference each year.

Castrodale expects this tragedy will result in some changes, but hopes smart building strategies are not pushed aside in the process.

"I don't think it's the accelerated bridge part of the construction that came to be the issue," Castrodale said.

Cox Media Group