FNDC Bridge Inspections & Asset Management

Client: Far North District Council

A resilient bridge network through data-driven decisions

The Far North District Council (FNDC) is responsible for 725 bridges and culverts across the region. These structures are critical to the Far North’s transport network, connecting communities and supporting local economies. With a finite repair and maintenance budget, FNDC needed an asset management strategy that would ensure network resilience, avoid reactive spending and provide long-term value.

FNDC chose to partner with GRIT to help them pragmatically assess risk and prioritise action.

Developing a best asset lifecycle strategy

Understanding the condition of each bridge and culvert was the first step. Where assets were in poor condition with multiple defects, economic analysis identified the most cost-effective approach over the asset’s lifecycle, while balancing risk. Detailed assessments and maintenance scopes were produced to underpin repair or replacement action. Emergency inspections following storm or impact damage were also part of the scope, requiring rapid response and practical, risk-based advice to support logical solutions.

Making the data manageable

Managing hundreds of assets efficiently can be a daunting task, but our clear, risk-based reports with interactive photography of each asset gave FNDC all the data they needed to prioritise action. With clear risk-assessment criteria, we helped develop a framework that sorted thousands of defects into priority levels, allowing FNDC to identify critical work while planning ahead for lower-priority issues. Along the way, we collaborated with our client to clean and update their asset database to improve the quality and relevance of asset condition data.

More value, less waste

With an accurate view of risk, we worked closely with FNDC to adjust their forward work programme. Some planned repairs could be safely delayed, while higher-risk bridges were prioritised. In some cases, reinspecting assets and challenging prior assumptions revealed that major repairs or replacements previously recommended could be safely avoided. By properly assessing load capacity and durability, reductions in scope and cost were achieved, avoiding unnecessary work and delivering savings.

Logistical challenges

Inspecting and assessing such an extensive network wasn’t without its challenges. The region is large, and many sites are remote. To deliver best value, inspections were grouped by location and efficient routes mapped out. We also used GPS monitoring and check-in systems to keep our workers safe, while staying productive.

A clear plan for the future

FNDC now has a clearer picture of their bridge network’s condition, along with prioritised maintenance and renewal strategies grounded in evidence, not assumptions. Working with our client, we’ve supported a smarter, more sustainable approach to infrastructure asset management, and helped build a stronger, more resilient transport network for the region.

Stuart Beavan, Contract Supervisor for Transportation Maintenance at FNDC said that “GRIT were at all times professional, clear and prompt, and the bridge reports they provided were thorough, clear, concise and immaculately presented.”