Bridges

Case studies of bridges located in the Lockyer Valley in Queensland and the Solomon Islands are presented in the paper. Historically these locations have experienced extreme flooding. Flood damage at bridges can isolate communities and result in damage to the natural environment. Current design codes mean that it is now rare for bridge structures to fail during flooding. However, road approaches and abutments are frequently damaged during flooding, disconnecting road networks and communities. These case studies demonstrate the value of integrated engineering solutions for bridge design and how this can reduce maintenance issues at bridges.Design decisions that create future maintenance threats are discussed using the presented case studies. The paper highlights the importance of an assessment of scour, debris and deposition during the development of the design of the road and bridge following a flood event. The authors argue that some alternative approaches to design can improve the post-disaster functionality of road networks and reduce bridge maintenance requirements.