Support to Argentina’s Ministry of Public Works, through the National Directorate of Roads (DNV), to integrate disaster risk management and climate change considerations into decision-making during the design stage of the new bridge over the Paraná River, as part of the Chaco-Corrientes Connectivity Programme.
The project comprises the construction of a main bridge with a span of 770 m, 5,600 m of approach viaducts across the floodplain and 26.3 km of motorway connecting national routes RN 11 and RN 12, including substantial embankments required to reach the level of the viaducts.
The consultancy involved a comprehensive risk assessment to characterise the baseline risk profile and evaluate its evolution under different future scenarios. The work included the preparation of a risk narrative, a detailed qualitative assessment through failure mode identification, and the evaluation and validation of the hydrological and hydraulic models. A methodology was also proposed to incorporate climate change into future scenarios, alongside technical support for the river morphodynamic studies.
A comprehensive quantitative flood risk assessment was also undertaken for the project area, considering potential effects on communities, infrastructure and the environment. Based on the results, recommendations were developed to prevent the construction of the bridge from increasing existing risk or transferring impacts to third parties and other areas.
Finally, a Disaster Risk Management Plan was prepared, setting out measures to reduce and manage residual risk throughout the different phases of the project. The work enabled resilience and sustainability considerations to be incorporated into the design of strategic infrastructure connecting the provinces of Chaco and Corrientes.
