The bridge which collapsed in Miami at FIU on Thursday was built using what is called "accelerated bridge construction" technology and was supposed to be strong enough to withstand a Category 5 hurricane.
The collapse killed at least six people and crushed at least eight cars, CNN reported. The pedestrian bridge's main span was installed on Saturday and was still under construction when it crashed into the street.
Searchers were still on the scene Friday morning, NBC News reported, but their mission had changed from resue to recovery.
According to Florida International University, the 174-foot portion of the bridge was built in an adjacent location using the ABC technology, and then was maneuvered into its perpendicular position across the road by a rig in six hours.
The $14.2 million span was supposed to provide a safer crossing of the eight-lane thoroughfare for 4,200 FIU students living in Sweetwater. It was also expected to provide 9,900 square feet of gathering and event space, the university said.
CNN said MCM, the company installing the bridge, said it would "conduct a full investigation to determine exactly what went wrong and will cooperate with investigators on scene in every way."
FIGG Bridge Engineers, the company which designed the bridge, said, "We will fully cooperate with every appropriate authority in reviewing what happened and why. In our 40-year history, nothing like this has ever happened before," per CNN.
ABC streamlines the building process so bridge construction projects can be completed quicker and be more cost-efficient, CNN said. According to the Federal Highway Administration website, the technology uses what is called Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems, where structural components of a bridge are built offsite, or near-site of a bridge.
That construction includes features that reduce the onsite construction time and the mobility impact time that occurs when building new bridges or rehabilitating or replacing existing bridges relative to conventional construction methods, the website said.
The FHA said ABC technology is supposed to improve safety, quality, durability, environmental impact and social cost in building bridges. It said ABC lessens total project delivery time and work-zone safety issues for the traveling public.
"This project is an outstanding example of the ABC method," said Atorod Azizinamini, chair of FIU's civil and environmental engineering department in a university statement last week. "Building the major element of the bridge – its main span superstructure – outside of the traveled way and away from busy Eighth Street is a milestone."
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