Six construction workers were seriously injured late Friday night during a scheduled overnight operation on the Interstate 395 bridge near downtown Miami, prompting an extensive multi-agency rescue effort and a temporary shutdown of the project, authorities said.
Miami Fire Rescue crews were dispatched to the construction site shortly after 10 p.m. following reports of a workplace accident inside the active work zone. According to officials, the workers fell approximately 30 feet during formwork operations related to a concrete pour.
All six workers were successfully rescued and transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center. Authorities confirmed that each victim sustained serious injuries, though no fatalities were reported.
“They all have different types of injuries,” Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez said. “They all fell or toppled over about 30 feet, so we’re talking about extensive bodily injuries — potential fractures to limbs and potential head injuries.”
Fire officials said the workers were performing construction formwork when the accident occurred. Lt. Sanchez explained that the crew had been standing on a cap positioned on top of a beam and pillar when they became stuck between metal bars and wooden materials before falling.
Specialized rescue crews from Miami Fire Rescue’s Technical Rescue Team were deployed to extricate the workers from the elevated structure. A crane already positioned at the site was also used to assist rescue efforts, allowing first responders to quickly reach one worker who had become pinned on a platform.
The Florida Department of Transportation emphasized that the incident did not involve the bridge structure itself or any roadway open to traffic.
Maria Rosa Higgins Fallon, a spokesperson for FDOT, released a detailed statement addressing reports that incorrectly described the incident as a bridge collapse.
"Contrary to reports describing an incident last night on the Signature Bridge as a “bridge collapse”, an incident occurred during a scheduled overnight construction operation which involved construction formwork during a concrete pour within the work zone. It did not involve the bridge structure or any portion of the roadway open to traffic. All work was being conducted within a controlled and closed environment away from live traffic," she wrote.
She added that roadways were temporarily closed to allow first responders access to the site and confirmed that all travel lanes have since reopened.
"Following the incident, some roadways were temporarily closed for first responders to gain access to the site, where six crew members were transported to the hospital for treatment and evaluation. No fatalities are reported at this time. The scene has since been cleared, and all travel lanes are now open," Fallon said.
The Florida Highway Patrol, FDOT, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are jointly investigating the incident. FDOT has ordered a project stand-down while internal reviews are conducted to determine the cause of the accident and assess safety procedures.
"FDOT is working closely with the contractor to understand the details of this incident and the Department has mandated a project stand-down until internal reviews are conducted," Fallon said.
Officials reiterated that there is no risk of collapse in the construction area and that the bridge remains structurally sound.
The I-395 project is part of a broader infrastructure effort in Miami aimed at improving traffic flow and modernizing the transportation network. Construction activity is expected to resume once safety reviews and investigations are completed.
Originally reported by Local 10 News.
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