DUELING COLUMN: FIU Bridge Reconstruction Is Too Soon

Humberto Mendez Prince/Staff Writer

It has been almost three years after the FIU bridge tragedy, a project that would connect the residents of adjacent neighborhoods with the University, plummeted on top of pedestrians. This tragedy caused the death of six people and injuring 10 others. It was determined that a flaw in the design of the bridge was the reason why the ambitious project failed to meet standards and subsequently collapsed. 

Recently, the FIU Board of Trustees approved a transfer of $9.12 million dollars to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).  This confirms the reconstruction of the bridge will officially move forward.  I still believe in the project, but inevitably like with any tragedy, time is needed to heal and have a proper reconstruction time.

Prior to the bridge incident, I thought this project would help the community and keep students safe from traffic. The bridge would connect the university, not only to residential buildings across the street but with students living near the University. Like several buildings inside the campus, this bridge was supposed to be an extension of FIU designed to last several years. But unfortunately, this wasn’t the case. 

 In hindsight, The FDOT’s decision of overseeing the project is an attempt to bring a sense of security to the construction. But the problem is not whether the university has the capability of constructing a bridge, because, after the fact, there will be skeptics who wouldn’t dare cross it no matter what governmental identity oversaw its construction. No, the issue here is the inability of FIU to empathize with the victims of the tragedy.  

Also, the quickness in which FIU decided to build the bridge sends the wrong message to the Panther community, it’s understandable the goal of building the bridge must be met, and that ultimately, the bridge itself is meant to help students. However, it can come as insensitive to rush this project considering the difficult year the country just endured. Maybe FIU should consider that pushing this project is inconsiderate towards the Panther community and the families of those affected.

Although it’s understandable that goals must be met in terms of providing a service to students, it’s highly unlikely that people will put their trust in the new bridge. No amount of pressure to build a new bridge will hide the failure behind the first project, and to force a construction just a couple of years after the tragedy reflects a lack of tact and common sense from FIU.

 Rather than rushing the construction to meet an imaginary deadline, FIU should wait at least until the pandemic is fully over. After all, the construction of the bridge can be delayed since there’s much less influx of students on campus due to the pandemic. But the logic of it comes from the fact that the past year was particularly difficult for everybody, so efforts should go towards keeping students safe in the present during these times of hardship.  

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