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Companies behind Florida bridge collapse have history of fines, failures, lawsuits

The construction industry has a long history of kick-backs/pay-offs and the good old boy mentality. You scratch my back and I will fill your coffers.

I am not implying that this is the case with the bridge collapse in Florida; BUTT there had to be something going on behind closed doors for these two companies with the track record they have, were awarded a project that lives depended on.

The walkway bridge was SUPPOSED to constructed to make it easier and safer for students from FIU to cross the freeway from one side to another, not to kill them.

I see in the picture above, there IS an area in the median strip where a vertical center brace could have been placed for additional support. BUTT, who am I????

Both of the contractors on the $14.2-million pedestrian bridge, MCM Construction, a Miami-based contractor, and Figg Bridge Design, based in Tallahassee, both have worked on dozens of projects nationwide, ranging from military facilities to schools. BUTT, always the BIG BUTT; the performance and safety history of the 2 companies is something to be desired. Both have been fined numerous times for safety and construction violations.

Based on those fact, neither of them should have been allowed to bid on the project, let alone be awarded its construction. The end result; there are 6 people dead and 14 injured because of their incompetence and some possible improprieties.

This thing will be bounced back and forth in the courts, each side claiming it was POORLY engineering and the other side will claim improper construction methods.

It would not surprise me in the least; based on the history of the 2 companies, if there were not some exchanging of gratuitie$  between the parties involved in the awarding process.

Kick-backs, corruption and behind door deals in business is as old as Noah Ark.  There is nothing wrong with a favor or two being extended, lunch, dinner, possibly a gift certificate to a strip joint, BUTT when it involves the safety and well-being of the public, that is where the line should be drawn.

The Virginia Department of Labor cited Figg for four violations in 2012 after a 90-ton slab of concrete fell from a bridge it was building near Norfolk, according to the Miami Herald.

In addition, Figg was hit with a $28,000 fine and the Department of Labor said the company modified a girder without properly inspecting it or getting written consent from its manufacturer, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

This will be a wait and see for the final outcome as to where the fault lies, that is if the TRUTH is ever revealed, If the contractors are found to be negligent and they are not barred from bidding on any and all work, city, state, federal throughout the country, we know there is someone hiding in the wood shed. They should be scrutinized to the 10th degree. I have seen companies get thrown off of a bidders list and the next day they are up and running under another name.  It happens everyday.

If the engineering firm that designed the walk-bridge is found negligent, they should also be fined heavily and shit canned from any other work. I saw one possible design flaw just from a picture, not having a center post erected and I was never on the job.

Forget the mathematics; if a center beam as shown in the pictured would have been included in the bridges design; I would not have been blogging about this tragedy today and there would not be 6 people dead and 114 injured.  I will place that blame on the design engineer, BUTT an experienced contractor should have brought this to someones attention. For all I know, they may have???????????????????????

This should have been the company’s slogan.

Many times; the long way around is the short way home.