Severe weather conditions needn't stop work

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The UK may be experiencing a bumper summer, including the third sunniest July since 1929, but that hasn’t stopped frequent severe weather warnings throughout the UK, most recently in Cumbria, and flooding in West Yorkshire, Wales and Cornwall.

Several areas of the UK have been on yellow and orange alerts due to recent spells of heavy rain, coupled with forecasts of thunderstorms and hail threatening to affect roadways and ground conditions.

However, such weather conditions needn’t halt work on UK roads and construction sites, says John Roberts, Managing Director of ground protection experts, Timbermat.

"Sudden and dramatic increases in the moisture level of soil severely affects its structural stability, causing it to very quickly turn into mud. Alternatively, too little moisture during hot, dry weather, can cause the ground to crumble when pressure is applied, creating hazardous conditions for construction and oversized vehicles,’ said John Roberts. ‘But storms, flash floods or dry periods, do not have to halt work, provided that portable roadways are available to cover over the worst-affected areas, and create a temporary roadway for vehicles to use safely."

On construction sites, crane mats can spread the load, helping to compensate for any subsidence or poor soil structure, and they can be used to create temporary roadways too.

John explained: "Timber mats laid sequentially create slightly elevated temporary roadways, with access ramps at either end, giving a little extra height to keep the roadway surface out of any standing water, flash flooding or mud at ground level."

Taking necessary precautions is vital for all construction sites but unexpected weather conditions can catch us all by surprise at some time or another, but as one of the largest suppliers of temporary roadway and access solutions in the UK, Timbermat are well placed to get sites up and running in next to no time.