Overview
The Fitzroy River Bridge, in addition to 500 metres of road, was significantly damaged following historical flooding through the Kimberley Region early in 2023. Ex-tropical cyclone Ellie damaged the highway and caused the bridge to collapse in December 2022.
The New Fitzroy River Bridge was designed and constructed in just 10 months — six months ahead of schedule — and is six times stronger than the original. It reconnects families and communities on the east and west sides of the river and reinstates essential access for Australia’s freight and transport industries.
Timeline & Location
Ex-tropical cyclone Ellie caused the bridge collapse in December 2022. The New Fitzroy River Bridge was designed and constructed in 10 months and opened in December 2023, one year after the cyclone — six months ahead of schedule.
Located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Stakeholders
Owned by the Western Australian government and the Australian federal government. Built by an alliance between Georgiou, BMD Group, BG&E and Main Roads (Western Australia government). Users include government, architects, engineers, constructors, and operators.
Digitalisation & Data
Flood modelling tools were used in the design process. New data from the 2023 floods was collected and incorporated into flood modelling to ensure up-to-date information and advice about future flood risks.
Hazards
Exogenous Hazards
Ex-tropical cyclone Ellie damaged the highway and caused the bridge to collapse in December 2022.
Endogenous Hazards
Configuration of old bridge and road not strong enough to withstand cyclone Ellie (new bridge is six times stronger).
Cost & Benefit
Cost: Australian $245 million.
Key Benefits: Short construction time — designed and constructed in 10 months, six months ahead of schedule. The new bridge reconnects families and communities on the east and west sides of the river and reinstates essential access for Australia’s freight and transport industries.
Resilience Principles Assessment
Assessment of meeting Principles of Resilient Infrastructure
Clearly Defined Accountabilities and Shared Responsibilities (P1)
Governance framework and disaster recovery guiding principles established as part of a resilience plan for Kimberley floods. Key elements: Understand the CONTEXT; Recognise COMPLEXITY; Use COMMUNITY-LED approaches; Local leadership, empowerment and engagement; ‘Do No Harm’ — avoid negative impacts; Engagement with Aboriginal people and Prescribed Bodies Corporates with free, prior and informed consent; COORDINATE all approaches; COMMUNICATE effectively; Recognise and build CAPACITY; Build back better.
Proactively Protected (P2)
Build back better — new infrastructure is six times stronger and more resilient to future natural disasters.
Environmentally Integrated (P3)
The floods caused environmental damage with changes to river channels, riverbank erosion, and losses of soil and vegetation. A goal is for natural environments to be healthy, resilient and biodiverse. Remediation works are preventing further degradation and protecting infrastructure, environment, heritage and cultural assets.
Socially Engaged (P4)
Community-centred approach with culturally appropriate engagement and Aboriginal community involvement.
Adaptively Transforming (P5)
Build capacity through regional economic benefits and employment outcomes.
Continually Learning and Improving (P6) To Do
Details pending.
Futures
Preparation for future flood risk includes: ensuring flood emergency warning systems remain operational; providing technical hydrological data (e.g., flood mapping); revising flood-modelling for recovery reconstruction and land-use planning; rebuilding more resilient river flow-gauging infrastructure; identifying opportunities for improvements to the flood-warning system; using two-way science to incorporate community flood knowledge into technical modelling.