Site roads and working platforms

Except on very compact construction sites, vehicles are likely to be used to transport materials from place to place. Site traffic may comprise road-going vans and delivery lorries, or construction plant ranging from dumpers weighing a few tonnes to tipper trucks of 35 t or more. In order for these vehicles to move safely and efficiently across terrain that might be rough and undulating with poor load-carrying capacity, temporary site roads are needed; these should be distinguished from ‘haul routes’ used by heavy earth-moving equipment. Site roads generally fulfil only the most basic function of a permanent carriageway and will often be designed for a relatively short working life. They are generally constructed cheaply using unbound granular material or hydraulically bound stabilised soil and must be capable of being simply and rapidly repaired should localised failure or excessive rutting occur during service. Purpose-built working platforms are needed to support heavy construction plant operating in defined locations; for example, tracked piling rigs and cranes and mobile cranes with outriggers. Platforms must be strong enough to ensure that the ground underneath is not overstressed during peak loading, and they should be relatively flat and level so there is no risk of plant toppling during manoeuvring.