Florida Gov. Rick Scott has ordered the Florida Department of Transportation to suspend payment of all federal funding allocated for the FIU pedestrian bridge.
A Monday press released from the governor's office says the FDOT acted as a “pass-through” for that funding. It will be withheld indefinitely, pending the completion of the National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the bridge collapse.
“Last week, the lives of six Floridians were tragically lost when the FIU pedestrian bridge suddenly collapsed onto SW 8th Street in Miami. Ann and I are heartbroken for these families and while we continue to mourn the loss of these individuals, we are also searching for answers,” Gov. Scott said.
“Today, I am directing FDOT to suspend all future payments of the more than $13.6 million in federal funding originally allocated for this project.
"Before another dollar is spent on this bridge, we must know exactly what happened. FDOT is working hand-in-hand with the NTSB in its investigation and until this is completed, all taxpayer dollars will be withheld.”