Floating Pontoon Hire is incredibly proud to be supporting Taziker during the major repair works taking place at the historic Bridge of Dee in Aberdeen.
More than 630m² of modular pontoon is currently onsite, forming a substantial temporary access system across the River Dee. The installation provides pedestrian access into the cofferdam alongside a dedicated floating bridge designed to carry heavy construction plant.
Pedestrian and Plant Access
The installation includes a 2.5-metre-wide pedestrian walkway, providing a clear access route between the riverbank and the working area within the cofferdam.
Alongside the walkway, we have supplied a 6-metre-wide, double-stacked floating plant bridge, specifically designed to accommodate machinery weighing up to 14 tonnes.
The floating bridge is topped with two layers of timber bog mats, laid in opposing directions to strengthen the deck and spread the plant loads across the pontoon.
Double stacking the pontoon provides increased buoyancy and rigidity, while the 6-metre width and reinforced timber deck create a stable route for tracked machinery travelling across the river channel.
Together, the two pontoon systems allow both the workforce and construction plant to reach the working area where conventional ground access was not available.
Extensive Planning and Preparation
A significant amount of engineering and preparation was completed before the first pontoon modules arrived onsite.
Working with Keel Marine, we arranged the stability, buoyancy and loading calculations required for the installation, including assessment of the 14-tonne plant loads travelling across the floating bridge.
The preparation also included:
- Development of the pontoon layout and restraint arrangements
- Consideration of changing river levels and flow conditions
- Design of bespoke pile cages and mooring brackets
- Planning for the movement of heavy plant across the floating bridge
The bespoke steelwork was fabricated by North West Steel Craft, with Floating Pontoon Hire coordinating the design, fabrication and installation requirements.
The scale of the installation, the changing river environment and the loads being carried meant that the system needed to be developed specifically around the requirements of the project.
Supporting the Cofferdam Works
The wider Bridge of Dee project includes the installation of a sheet-piled cofferdam covering more than 4,500m², creating a dewatered working area around the bridge structure.
Pumps and water-treatment equipment have also been installed to dewater the cofferdam while preventing silt from being discharged into the river. The floating pedestrian and plant access routes form an important connection between the riverbank and this working area.
The pontoon system incorporates driven piles and bespoke pile cages, allowing it to rise and fall with changing water levels while remaining securely restrained and fully functional throughout the works.
Floating Bridges for Heavy Construction Plant
The Bridge of Dee project demonstrates how modular pontoons can provide far more than lightweight pedestrian access.
With the correct engineering, buoyancy, load distribution and mooring arrangements, floating pontoons can be configured to provide temporary access for:
- Tracked excavators and construction machinery
- Cofferdam and sheet-piling operations
- Bridge repairs and inspections
- Scour protection works
- Movement of materials and equipment
- Temporary pedestrian and workforce access
Each installation can be designed around the available space, anticipated loads, water conditions and access requirements of the individual project.
We are incredibly proud to be supporting Taziker and the wider project team on such a significant scheme, and to see our pontoons forming an integral part of the site access arrangements.
For assistance with a floating bridge, plant access route, cofferdam or temporary marine access project, contact Floating Pontoon Hire on 01590 607104 or email admin@floatingpontoonhire.co.uk.
