The 852-tonne (950-ton) section of the FIU-Sweetwater University City Bridge was built adjacent to the eight-lane Southwest Eight Street using accelerated bridge construction (ABC) methods, which are being advanced at FIU's Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center (ABC-UTC).

The main span of the bridge was installed in a few hours over the weekend, with limited disruption to traffic. The bridge was designed by Figg Bridge Engineers and built by MCM. Barnhart Crane & Rigging operated the self-propelled modular transporters that placed the bridge on its permanent supports.

"This project is an outstanding example of the ABC method," said ABC-UTC director Atorod Azizinamini, who is also chair of FIU's civil and environmental engineering department. "Building the major element of the bridge - its main span superstructure - outside of the travelled way and away from busy Eighth Street is a milestone."

A brand-new pedestrian bridge collapsed onto a highway at a Miami-area college Thursday, crushing at least five vehicles. Several people were seen being loaded into ambulances and authorities said they were searching for people.