“Cyclone Gabrielle Bailey Bridge Response” is a finalist for the 2025 Āpōpō Asset Management Excellence Awards.

After Cyclone Gabrielle’s devastation, the Cyclone Gabrielle Bailey Bridge Response team quickly deployed Bailey bridges across the North Island, restoring vital connections. This effort demonstrated exceptional dedication and innovation, enabling swift recovery and strengthening community resilience. The project exemplified excellence in infrastructure management, significantly improving the quality of life for affected communities.

All involved: WSP, NZTA Waka Kotahi and Downer 

In 2023, New Zealand faced severe climate change impacts, with Cyclone Gabrielle causing widespread devastation. The cyclone led to multiple bridge collapses and major road network disruptions, cutting off critical lifelines, incurring high repair costs, and resulting in tragic loss of life.

In response, teams rapidly deployed a tailored triage system to assess damage. Led by the Bailey Contractor Project Manager and NZTA, sites were prioritised based on criticality and conditions. Downer then developed optimal installation methods to address site constraints and accessibility.

This project demonstrated exceptional infrastructure asset management, greatly enhancing community resilience. Within a week, the first Bailey bridge was installed, and in the following months, over 600 meters of Bailey bridges were deployed, successfully reconnecting isolated communities.

Acknowledgement should also be made to the local contractors and consultants working outside the Bailey Bridge Contract that worked on the ground with the Councils and made this work successful.