The Bridge Management Wing is a new wing established in 2000 evolving from the Bridge Design Circles East and West. In addition new circles have been established to manage data collection, surveys, planning, construction and maintenance of bridges on RHD roads.

The objective of the Bridge Management Wing is to contribute to the overall strategy of RHD by providing a high level of service, in the effective planning, design and management of bridge works on the RHD road network. This involves close liaison with RHD wings and field divisions to ensure that all bridge works are well managed from conception through to physical completion and are then appropriately maintained to optimise the use of funds.

The main outputs of the Wing and its circles are:

a) To maintain an up to date accurate and reliable inventory, including the physical attributes and conditions, of the Department’s bridges and culverts.

b) To contribute to RHD policies and long-term development plans by using available bridge data to plan the management of the bridge stock effectively.

c) To present prioritised listings and short-term and long-term programmes for bridge maintenance and development projects designed to optimise the use of available Government finance.

d) To develop and implement Quality Control and Quality Assurance schemes for bridge design, maintenance and construction.

e) To undertake and procure design and other services, monitor progress and manage programmes effectively for maintenance, replacement and new construction of bridges.

f) To draft PCP, PP and TAPP documents to be presented by the Planning & Programming Circle to the MoC and the Planning Commission.

g) To provide effective and timely responses to emergency situations involving bridges (floods, cyclones, earthquakes and collapses).

h) Produce annual report on the condition of the RHD Bridge Stock.

The Bridge Management Wing consists of four Circles each headed by an officer of Sperintending Engineer Level. The total proposed staffing for the Wing is 277 persons comprising 47 Class I officers, 20 Class II officers, 156 Class III and 54 Class IV staff.

Certain officers in the Wing are to be designated as specialists. Specialist posts for engineers with specialist training are star marked thus, EE*.

The detailed personnel figures are shown on the attached sheet.

The main activities of the Wing and its Circles are summarised below:

a) Establish bridge design, construction and maintenance standards to be applied to all bridgeworks within the RHD.

b) Collect, collate, review and monitor data on the entire RHD bridge stock to be included in the RMMS.

c) Develop a systematic approach to bridge management.

d) Procure or undertake surveys for the planning, design, maintenance and construction of bridge works.

e) Procure (from RHD or otherwise) necessary economic studies of new and replacement bridges.

f) Prepare recommendations for any proposed bridge replacement, major repairs and provision of new bridges including commissioning reviews of environmental, ecological, hydrological and social impacts of the proposals.

g) To liaise with other wings, circles and field zones in relation to road safety, environmental and social issues related to Bridges.

h) Procure consultants for the design and supervision. Check and review designs to ensure they meet all the specified requirements.

i) Develop annual & multi-year programmes for maintenance & development of the bridge stock (including foreign aided projects) in consultation with the planning authorities in the MoC and the Planning Commission.

j) Prepare draft PCPs, PPs and TAPPs for all proposed bridge projects.

k) To develop annual budgets for the maintenance, replacement and new construction of bridges.

l) Procure contractors for execution of bridge maintenance and construction works.

m) Establish adequate funds for the operation of the Wing to meet the objectives stated above by securing budgets based on actual operational needs.

n) Establish increased funding for bridge maintenance on a long term basis.

o) Prepare monthly and annual reports on all bridge related activities.

Further details on the outputs and activities of the various circles are provided in the Circle Development Plans.