Palmetto Bay is calling its residents to action over concerns about a recently awarded bridge contract. The village confirmed a special council meeting is scheduled for this coming Thursday after discovery that a company involved in the catastrophic FIU pedestrian bridge collapse had been granted a contract for the 87th Avenue bridge project. According to Local 10, the village stated, "On Friday, the Village learned that the 87th Avenue bridge contract has been awarded to the company responsible for the tragic FIU pedestrian bridge collapse that claimed six innocent lives."
Mayor Karyn Cunningham urged the community to join the upcoming meeting and voice their concerns, as articulated in a statement on the village's official social media channels. "The Village needs your voice in demanding the County Mayor halt this project at once," the Mayor's office communicated on their Instagram post.
In March 2018, the FIU bridge collapse left a profound mark on the community, causing six fatalities. A report by the National Transportation Safety Board indicated that engineers' calculation errors were the probable cause, where both the design firm FIGG Bridge Engineers and Munilla Construction Management, now known as Magnum Construction Management, were implicated.
The call to action by the Mayor is a response to fears that public safety could be compromised by entrusting the new bridge project to some of the same entities. Palmetto Bay's official website conveyed an urgent message to its residents: "By standing together, we can protect our homes, our families, and our future from this reckless project." Detailed information about the special council meeting, slated to take place at 7 p.m. this Thursday, is promised to be provided on the village's website and social media outlets for concerned citizens seeking to participate.
