Project Overview
FPS Pontoon Hire supplied a temporary floating work platform at the Orwell building at Wigan Pier. The platform supported canal-side refurbishment works beside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
As the project progressed, land-based access became increasingly restricted. The contractor therefore needed a stable work area directly beneath and alongside the canal-side structure.
The Access Challenge
The main works focused on the rear walkway between the buildings. Parts of the existing timber structure overhung the canal, which limited the space available from the bank.
A floating access solution allowed the working area to remain close to the refurbishment zone without relying solely on the restricted canal edge.
FPS Pontoon Solution
FPS installed a 36 m × 4 m modular pontoon working platform to support removal and refurbishment activities.
Because the system was modular, the platform could be repositioned as the workfront changed. This helped the contractor maintain practical access throughout different stages of the programme.
Related solutions include our Floating Work Platforms, Floating Walkways & Bridges and Watercourse Maintenance systems.
Flexible Access as Works Progressed
The pontoon could be moved to suit different phases of the refurbishment. As a result, the contractor could keep the working platform close to the structure while activities progressed along the canal edge.
Why Floating Access Suits Canal-Side Refurbishment
Canal-side buildings often have little or no space between the wall and the water. A floating platform gives a continuous working area along the elevation and can be moved as the work moves, without scaffold standing in the canal.
On Canal & River Trust waterways, works that affect the canal normally need to be agreed with the Trust in advance. Navigation, mooring points and how passing boats get by should be part of the plan.
Related Services
Related Projects
- Pontoon Access System for Steel Frame & Joinery Works – Rutland Mills
- Brownsfield Mill – Canal-Side Pontoon Access for Damp-Proofing
- View all Pontoon Hire Case Studies
Need Canal-Side Access for Refurbishment Works?
Tell us the proposed working area, site access, waterway constraints, required platform size and intended use. Our team can then review a suitable temporary floating access solution.
Call 01253 921 352 or contact FPS Pontoon Hire to request a quotation.
