Here is what is known at this time. It's going to be a while before the OSHA and other investigations are completed and a root cause is determined. I passed by this work several times this year and it's an impressive piece of roadwork. However, it's a hell of a bottle neck during rush hour and even at other times. I don't believe I've been there without an accident having happened. It will be a hardship on all the workers for lost wages while the entire project is shut down.
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"NAMPA — The Idaho Transportation Department hired two forensic investigation firms to look into what caused a partially constructed bridge to collapse Monday in Nampa, injuring 13 workers.
The 14-man crew fell about 30 feet as they poured concrete on a bridge span they were building on a site away from the bridge’s ultimate location.
Initial reports indicated all 14 crew members had been injured, but officials said Tuesday one worker declined treatment and was not taken to a hospital. The other 13 were taken to three area hospitals for treatment of injuries including broken bones and lacerations.
Here’s what happened
The 14 workers were pouring concrete using a cement truck and a crane.
They had worked with a smoothing machine on the concrete and had about three-quarters of the bridge slab poured. It was the first of the four slabs where workers planned to pour concrete to build the bridge deck.
The span of Robinson Boulevard bridge that fell collapsed about 1:30 p.m.
The impact of the collapse may have compromised the strength of the scaffolding holding up the other Robinson Boulevard overpass span and the two spans for the Black Cat overpass — as well as the spans themselves.
How much of the collapsed bridge span can be salvaged or if the other bridge spans can still be used has yet to be determined.
The bridges were being built off-site so they could later be moved into place without disturbing traffic or construction on I-84.
All work on the project, including construction of the other Robinson Boulevard span and the two Black Cat spans, has been halted.
No work was taking place on the other three slabs at the site at the time of the accident.
Officials believe the injured workers had worker’s compensation insurance coverage.
Two of the 13 workers injured in the accident remained in an area hospital Tuesday. One of them has a broken back, Nampa Deputy Fire Chief Doug Strosnider said.
The accident happened in a field just north and west of Interstate 84 and Robinson Boulevard. Crews were constructing interstate overpasses for Robinson and Black Cat Road in the field."