Our Operational Performance

Big McPhee Bridge is now 108 m long, nearly double the old bridge

Maintenance

Case Study

Big McPhee Bridge Replacement

In December 2012, the new bridge at Big McPhee’s Creek on the Great Northern Highway was opened to traffic. Located approximately 120 kilometres south of Kununurra, the bridge forms part of the National Highway network, linking Western Australia with the Northern Territory.

Two days of heavy rainfall triggered a major flood event causing structural damage to Big McPhee Bridge.

The old Big McPhee Bridge had been damaged by flooding on numerous occasions. More recently, in March 2011, a major flood event in the East Kimberley caused structural damage to the bridge which necessitated its closure. Food and fuel needs of local communities and mines required that section of the Great Northern Highway to be re-opened immediately. Within two weeks of closure, temporary repairs to strengthen the bridge were made to allow essential travel, with reduced operating conditions.

Following the damage sustained in March 2011, our Kimberley Region initiated and fast-tracked the planning for a permanent solution. This provided the opportunity to construct a new two lane bridge which was both longer and higher than the original. The new bridge is 108 metres in length, nearly double the length of the old bridge. Improvements of the new bridge include savings in probable accident costs and delays due to the inadequate width of the single lane bridge and increased serviceability of the crossing as the new bridge is 2.5 metres higher.