Flooding generated by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie between December 2022 and January 2023 caused significant damage to the sections of Great Northern Highway at Willare Crossing and Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley region of WA.

At Fitzroy Crossing, the Fitzroy River Bridge was significantly damaged along with 500 metres of road – cutting access to Indigenous communities and other key stakeholders east of the Fitzroy River as well as the East Kimberley and Northern Territory.

As a part of the Fitzroy Bridge Alliance with Georgiou and BMD Group, BG&E adopted a streamlined and focused approach to restoring this critical link. BG&E provided bridge design services for the Fitzroy River Bridge replacement project.

BG&E’s Scope included

• Constructing a new two-lane bridge over the Fitzroy River.
• Integrating a pedestrian pathway.
• Reconstructing bridge approaches.
• Implementing flood and scour protection.
• Managing the protection and relocation of utility services.
• Flood modelling and hydrology.

In December 2023 the New Fitzroy River Bridge officially opened to traffic, more than six months ahead of schedule, marking the official reconnection of East and West Kimberley.

This project is set to have a lasting and sustainable legacy for the community surrounding Fitzroy Crossing – reconnecting East and West Kimberley and creating skills development and economic opportunities.