Floating Pontoon Solutions assists AmcoGiffen with Doncaster bridge repair project

Floating Pontoon Solutions (FPS) is supporting a project to repair Rainbow Bridge, which carries the Mexborough to Doncaster railway line over the River Don at Conisbrough.

AmcoGiffen began works on 30 January 2023, after a periodic bridge inspection revealed that the structure’s steelwork needed to be repaired, shot blasted and repainted.

The multi-disciplinary engineering and maintenance specialist contracted FPS to provide two floating pontoons and a safety boat, supporting its team as they erected scaffolding.

Tower scaffolding was built on the larger nine-meter square pontoon, enabling workers to access and encapsulate the bridge. Doing so ensured that paint and waste material did not contaminate the river below.

 A smaller pontoon provided access to the inflatable safety boat, which was manned by two FPS team members and could rescue scaffolders from the water in the event of a fall.

While Rainbow Bridge cannot be reached directly from the riverbank, FPS was able to enter the water via a nearby access point and tow the pontoons to site.

Every evening, its team towed the pontoons to a wider point in the river, allowing an oil tanker to pass.

After gaining access to Rainbow Bridge, engineers established that additional repair works would be required, and the project’s scope was extended. FPS will return to site later in the year, supporting AmcoGiffen as it removes scaffolding.

FPS serves rail specialists across the UK, supplying customisable, interlocking platforms that can support 175kg per square meter.

Commenting on the project, FPS managing director Steve Wilson said: “We’re pleased to once again be supporting our partner AmcoGiffen as it carries out repairs to an important piece of railway infrastructure.

“We have a longstanding relationship with AmcoGiffen – and, while this project presented some challenges, we were able to draw on previous experience, coming up with solutions quickly. We look forward to completing works later this year.”

To learn more about Floating Pontoon Solutions visit: https://www.floatingpontoonsolutions.co.uk/

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