When construction projects encounter challenging terrains like muddy fields, uneven ground, or environmentally sensitive areas, site access becomes a top priority. That’s where mats come in. Matting and site access solutions are designed to provide a stable, reliable surface for heavy machinery, ensuring your projects run smoothly and safely. Whether you’re working on soft ground or protecting delicate ecosystems, mats help prevent costly delays, safeguard your equipment, and keep your team moving forward.
Explore the critical role of site access mats and how they can improve the efficiency and safety of your next project.
Site access refers to the process of ensuring that personnel, equipment, and materials can move safely and efficiently to reach a construction site. These sites may be situated in remote location, on soft ground, or in environmentally protected areas. Proper site access planning includes creating temporary pathways to allow construction vehicles to move freely across challenging terrains, minimizing disruption and impact. This approach ensures the site remains accessible, organized, and safe.
Site access helps get everyone and everything to the job site safely and efficiently. Using proper site access planning, techniques, and products can minimize disruption to the project by reducing downtime and damage done to the immediate environment, while improving productivity. Products such as access mats create temporary roadways while protecting the ground underneath and temporary bridges can offer a quick, safe crossing over rivers and ditches.
Site access is beneficial in a variety of areas, especially in sensitive environments such as farms, wetlands, and protected ecological areas. Using site access products to create temporary accessways protects ecosystems, prevents damage to waterways, and ensures wildlife can access critical resources like water. Proper site access minimizes environmental impact while keeping operations safe and compliant, allowing projects to move forward responsibly and sustainably.
Mats are heavy-duty platforms, often made of wood like oak or Southern Yellow Pine, designed to create stable ground for construction projects. They provide a reliable foundation for heavy machinery on soft, uneven, or environmentally sensitive terrains. Construction mats prevent equipment from getting stuck, reduce ground damage, and make operations safer and more efficient.
Site access mats are essential for maintaining progress on a construction site. Without proper support, machinery can become stuck or damaged in muddy or uneven terrain, leading to costly delays and safety hazards. Mats provide a smooth surface, distribute the weight of equipment, and protect both the machinery and the ground beneath. They also create safer working conditions by reducing the risk of slipping or tripping on unstable surfaces.
Site access solutions can be used to create temporary roads, work platforms, or staging areas that allow machinery and personnel to move efficiently across challenging terrain. They are vital in maintaining stability on soft, uneven, or unpredictable ground, where you might not always know what lies beneath. Whether it’s hidden utilities, unstable soil, or sensitive vegetation, mats provide a safe, durable surface that protects both your equipment and the environment while minimizing costly delays.
Site access is complex and requires thorough knowledge of the project. The steps laid out below are just some of the tasks required to successfully implement a site access plan. Each element brings challenges, so it is highly recommended to use a professional consultant, like Sterling. An experienced consultant can help select the right products for the job, make sure the site access plan meets the needs of the project, and save you money.
Plan Your Route
Map out the most efficient path for vehicles and equipment. Consider natural features, existing roads, and areas where access may be restricted or challenging.
Assess Your Environment
Evaluate the terrain, soil type, and weather conditions to understand your project may be impacted. Identify sensitive areas or potential hazards upfront to prevent damage and delays.
Determine Load Requirements
Identify the weight and size of the machinery and materials that will need to access the site to ensures your setup can handle the load without causing issues.
Select Your Mats
Choose mats based on the conditions of the site and the load requirements as different types of mats offer different benefits, some of which may save considerably money.
Install Your Mats
Survey the land for rocks or debris, clear or grade as needed within the scope or your project and local regulations. Proper installation helps create a stable and safe working surface.
Clean and Maintain Your Mats
Regularly inspect and clean your mats to remove mud, debris, and buildup to ensure they remain effective and also to extend their lifespan throughout the project.
Site access isn’t easy but Sterling can make it simple. We specialize in helping projects achieve a successful outcome by leveraging our decades of site access experience and our selection of high quality mats. Contact us to learn more about our products and how we can help you lay the foundation for success! Contact us at 708.388.2223.