Climate Proofing Transport Infrastructure

ENTRY DATE: 27.04.2015 | LAST UPDATE: 27.04.2015

CATEGORIES:

  • Coastal Regions
  • Improvement of structures

TECHNOLOGIES MATURITY:

Applicable immediately

Technology Owners:

  • Government – local and national government to be responsible for ensuring climate proofing of transport infrastructure
  • Non-governmental organisations e.g. Academy of Gandhian Studies (AGS), India
  • Community 

Needs Address

Measures against erosion, storm surges, flooding, inundation 

Adaptation effects

  • Increases resilience by ensuring transport links remain active despite increased flooding and rising sea level
  • Increased economic resilience by enhancing market access
  • Increased health resilience through ensuring access to health centres, hospitals and other social and health services
  • Increased mobility 

Overview and Features

Climate proofing roads, bridges and other transport links in coastal areas to withstand sea level rise & rise in river debris and be more resistant to extreme and harsh weather impacts. This enables mobility out of and into settlements to enable communications, livelihood and market activities and provision of services.

Cost

Costs for equipment, construction and maintenance

The table indicates the costs for climate-proofing the national network of roads in Bangladesh according to different climate scenarios and different road types. Costs are in USD.

Table: Costs for adaptation of the roads in Bangladesh in million USD (Source: Dasgupta et. al., 2010)

Energy source

Energy for construction

Ease of maintenance

Requires ongoing inspection and maintenance particularly after an extreme flood event 

Technology performance

Investments in climate proofing result in substantial savings in rehabilitation costs following climate events

Considerations

  • Design must account for future exacerbation of existing climate effects
  • Maintenance training provided to community member will enable their involvement and sustainability of the infrastructure

Co-benefit, suitability for developing countries

  • Provides job opportunities though construction and road maintenance contracts
  • High costs mean government cooperation is crucial and overseas financial assistance can be of benefit
  • Ensures mobility of remote communities and enables relief provisions and services in the case of disasters and emergencies

Information Resources

AdaptCap, 2012. Cyclone Resistant Causeway over the Buckingham Canal and Fishing Equipment Shed at Ramudupalli Palem and Sri Ramapuram, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh. Webpage. Available at: http://www.adaptcap.in/projects/ramudupalli-palem-and-sri-ramapuram-adaptation-project/ [21 January 2015]

ADB, 2010. Climate Proofing Timor-Leste's Roads. Asian Development Bank. Available at: http://www.adb.org/publications/climate-proofing-timor-lestes-roads

ADB, 2011. Guidelines for Climate Proofing Investment in the Transport Sector: Road Infrastructure Projects. Asian Development Bank. Available at: http://www.adb.org/documents/guidelines-climate-proofing-investment-transport-sector-road-infrastructure-projects [21 January 2015]

Dasgupta et.al, 2010. Climate Proofing Infrastructure in Bangladesh. World Bank. Policy Research Working Paper 5469. Available at: http://elibrary.worldbank.org/doi/pdf/10.1596/1813-9450-5469 [21 January 2015]

Lal, P.N. and Thurairajah, V. 2011. Making informed adaptation choices: A case study of climate proofing road infrastructure in the Solomon Islands. IUCN. Available at: http://www.climatechange.gov.au/sites/climatechange/files/documents/06_2013/iucn-infrastructure-solomon-islands-case-study.pdf [21 January 2015]

New Zealand Aid Programme, 2012. Communities reconnect after Makira Road Improvement Project. Available at: http://www.aid.govt.nz/media-and-publications/development-stories/june-2012/communities-reconnect-after-makira-road-improve

Schweikert, A., Chinowsky, P., Espinet, X. and Tarbert, M. 2014. Climate Change and Infrastructure Impacts: Comparing the Impact on Roads in ten Countries through 2100. Procedia Engineering 78:306–316. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877705814010595?np=y [21 January 2015]

SPREP, 2014. Climate-proof road opens in Kosrae, FSM. Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme. Available at: http://www.sprep.org/climate-change/climate-proof-road-opens-in-kosrae-fsm