Florida Pedestrian Bridge Constructed 5 Days Ago Collapses, Multiple Casualties

Re:Florida Pedestrian Bridge Constructed 5 Days Ago Collapse... by jandrese on Thursday March 15, 2018 @05:00PM (#16596491)

Is it common for pedestrian bridges to be so overbuilt? Given the weight and span it sounds like it has a cross sectional area of about 75 square feet of concrete (a little less for the steel components, but still a lot) for a mere 15 foot traffic deck. It's not crossing an especially large span nor need to carry any substantial weight other than its own, so why does it need to be so heavy?

Are they expecting trucks to run into it maybe?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Florida Pedestrian Bridge Constructed 5 Days Ago Collapse... by cdolan on Thursday March 15, 2018 @05:47PM (#16596791)

People are surprisingly heavy per square foot - multiple times the weight of a car PSF.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Florida Pedestrian Bridge Constructed 5 Days Ago Collapse... by CapitalistCartr on Thursday March 15, 2018 @05:29PM (#16596676)

They have to calculate for worst-case scenario. Imagine it were completely full of people. Dancing. Plus, people do ride motorcycles on them if they can get them on.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Florida Pedestrian Bridge Constructed 5 Days Ago Collapse... by nugi on Thursday March 15, 2018 @08:18PM (#16597656)

I have a few friends that easily outweigh my full size motorcycle.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Florida Pedestrian Bridge Constructed 5 Days Ago Collapse... by jersully72 on Thursday March 15, 2018 @05:54PM (#16596831)

And Mother Nature.

[ Parent | on HN ]