FIU Bridge Update - New Bridge Has Broken Ground

[epoxybot]

The replacement for the failed FIU Pedestrian Bridge has broken ground. While not visible on Google Maps, there is satellite imagery on Google Earth from 3/2025. So far it appears to be all ground work, on FIU campus and both sides of the canal (Sweetwater). The original bridge had a $16 million price tag, while the new steel-beamed bridge is more than double. It comes with not just one but TWO (2) faux stay-cable towers. Double your pleasure - Double your price.

Sweetwater Approves $37.7 Million Pedestrian Bridge Connecting FIU, Enhances Infrastructure | LocalLens

Overview: The Sweetwater City Commission approved a major pedestrian bridge project and discussed several comprehensive city planning amendments during its meeting on September 9, 2024. Notably, the bridge aims to enhance pedestrian connectivity between Florida International University (FIU) and...

thelocallens.org

https://www.wlrn.org/transportation/2023-04-03/cautious-new-design-5-years-after-fatal-fiu-bridge-collapse

Florida International University Pedestrian Bridge

bcceng.com

SR 90/US 41/SW 8 St at SW 109 Ave Pedestrian Bridge Replacement Project: SR 90/US 41/SW 8 St at SW 109 Ave Pedestrian Bridge Replacement Project

 

[spsalso]

That will be a pedestrian bridge two people wide with supports every 40 or 50ft.

This is close to a road bridge with a significant span, plus two sets of lifts either end. They will be $2M each without any effort.

I was incorrectly assuming a mid-span pier placed in the median strip. I see that that won't work. So, a single 200' span instead of two 100'.

I'm not following your comment about "two sets of lifts at either end". What is that? And what does it have to do with the price of the bridge? "They" will be $2M...?

This site:

https://www.baileybridgesolution.com/how-much-does-a-truss-bridge-cost.html

shows a price of $250,000 for a 100' highway span. I will speculate that a 200' span will experience a "cubed" cost--a cost increase of 9 fold. The cost then increases to $2.25 million. However, since this is for a highway bridge, I will cut the cost in half for a pedestrian bridge.

So I come up with a cost for the bridge of $1.3 million.



spsalso

 

[davidbeach]

Lifts = Elevators