FDOT orders continued safety stand-down after 6 workers injured on Miami I-395 bridge project

MIAMI — Florida transportation officials said a safety stand-down remains in effect for certain construction operations on the Interstate 395 bridge project after six workers were critically injured during a concrete pour earlier this month.

In an email sent to Local 10 News on Tuesday, the Florida Department of Transportation said the Jan. 17 incident occurred during formwork operations, when concrete was being poured into a temporary mold used to form a bridge component known as a “pier cap.”

FDOT emphasized that the incident did not involve the signature bridge arches themselves and happened within a controlled work zone, away from ongoing traffic.

“At the time of the incident, the Department immediately issued a safety stand down, and that continues in effect for all formwork operations,” said FDOT spokesperson Maria Rosa Higgins Fallon. “These operations will remain paused while the contractor implements a corrective action plan to help prevent future incidents of this nature.”

Higgins Fallon did not provide details about the injuries sustained by the six workers, how many remain hospitalized or their current conditions, despite specific questions about whether workers suffered from broken bones, burns or other trauma.

FDOT also did not address whether any workers were trapped during the collapse, as described in emergency dispatcher calls and by fire rescue officials.

Miami Fire Rescue officials previously said crews were called to the I-395 work zone shortly after 10 p.m. on Jan. 17 following reports of a construction accident.

Authorities said all six workers fell or toppled roughly 30 feet during a concrete pour and were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center with serious injuries.

Fire officials said some workers were briefly pinned or trapped among metal bars and wooden materials before being extricated using specialized rescue equipment and a crane already on site.

FDOT confirmed it is working with project leadership to review safety procedures but did not directly answer whether the U.S. Department of Labor or Occupational Safety and Health Administration has formally opened an investigation into the incident.

Local 10’s request to the Department of Labor seeking confirmation of a federal investigation was pending as of Tuesday.

The project is being built by the Archer Western–de Moya Joint Venture, the same contractor involved in a 2021 fatal construction incident in Clearwater that resulted in OSHA safety violations, according to federal records. Local 10 News has requested comment from the company but has not received a response.

The I-395 project, which includes a six-arch “signature bridge” and major interstate reconstruction near downtown Miami, is years behind schedule and has faced complex construction challenges due to the unique design of its precast concrete components.

FDOT said maintaining safety remains its top priority as reviews continue. The investigation into the Jan. 17 incident remains ongoing.

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