Massachusetts bridges go through rigorous inspection, MassDOT says

MEDFORD, Mass. — The 950-ton pedestrian bridge that collapsed onto a Florida highway, killing at least six people, had just undergone tests.

The cables were being tightened when it pancaked onto traffic below. The NTSB has opened an investigation.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has used rapid bridge construction for years.

Accelerated construction bridges are exactly that - bridges built extremely quickly, compared to conventional methods.

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According to MassDOT, in 2011, they built 14 of these bridges in Medford in just 10 weeks, using conventional methods would have taken at least four years.

Jonathan Gulliver is the Massachusetts Highway Administrator. He told Boston 25 News that safety is a priority and they follow national standards very closely.

"We have a very robust system for inspecting bridges and have full confidence in that process," said Gulliver.

Some drivers we spoke with say what happened in Florida is tragic, but they don't feel any less safe with these so-called "instant bridges" in Massachusetts.

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According to the MassDOT website, crews build the bridges in segments off-site. They use a crane to install each piece and connect it with rapid-setting concrete.

Gulliver says they're looking at the investigation in Florida very closely and taking any action needed to ensure the bridges here are as safe as possible.

Cox Media Group