Ground Protection Matting Case Study
Timber Mats Allow a Muddy Fill Job to Roll On
Treacherous terrain was no match for United Rentals’ temporary access solutions and expertise.
Summary
A civil excavation contractor faced unstable, wet terrain while moving 300,000 yards of dirt on a floodplain construction site and turned to United Rentals for a cost-effective solution. By utilizing over 450 heavy-duty timber mats to create a stable, temporary access road, the contractor successfully prevented equipment from sinking, increased safety, and kept the project on track.
Challenge
The unstable, wet terrain of a former sod farm on a floodplain, made it impossible for 40-ton off-road trucks to access the borrow pit without sinking, jeopardizing the progress and safety of a large-scale fill job requiring the movement of 300,000 yards of dirt.
To bring the ground up to grade for a construction project, a civil excavation contractor was performing a very large fill job on a former sod farm, which sat on a floodplain. The wet, mucky terrain was even more treacherous than usual at that time of year. It proved too unstable to allow 40-ton off-road trucks to access the borrow pit. The trucks, especially when loaded, were sinking.
In order to move the required 300,000 yards of dirt, the contractor knew they needed to stabilize the ground, and they called United Rentals for help.
Mats provide a cost-effective access solution
After considering building an access road with gravel, the contractor chose to utilize ground protection mats instead, realizing that mats would provide a more cost-effective and efficient solution. The company had leveraged mats on other projects for short driveways and entrances, but never for a road of this size—an impressive 1,500 feet x 32 feet.
The United Rentals matting team worked with the contractor to assess their needs and determine the ideal matting configuration based on the terrain, truck weights and traffic volume. Thanks to United Rentals’ extensive mat inventory, the team was able to quickly deliver more than 450 heavy-duty timber mats, which the contractor easily installed using trackhoes after liming the subgrade.
A successful outcome and satisfied customer
Matting is often overlooked by contractors as a temporary access road option, but on this project, it was a practical solution to the extremely challenging ground conditions. The smooth, stable road successfully prevented trucks and heavy equipment such as excavators from sinking, which increased safety, prevented costly downtime and allowed the project to move forward at pace.
The contractor was more than satisfied with the mats. “They did a wonderful job in terms of creating ingress and egress. I would certainly use them again,” said the project manager.
He has relied on United Rentals in the past for everything from steel plates to pumps and noted that United Rentals is “always one of the first calls I make whenever I need anything of any magnitude.”
The ability of United Rentals to design stable temporary roads and provide reliable, large-scale matting solutions with on-time deliveries and clear communication sets it apart from other matting providers and allows it to fully support customers, such as this contractor, who need fast, affordable, effective site access