Construction Mats for Wetlands
Traversing thick wilderness on foot is no small feat. Add heavy equipment and vehicles to the equation and the process gets even tougher. Now imagine encountering a swamp or other type of wetland directly between your team and your destination. No way under it, no way around it — better go through it.
Swamp mats provide a simple and practical transportation solution across soaked terrain. Cheaper and more time-efficient than building a bridge, mats create temporary transportation routes for those in industries such as forest management. If that’s you, and you’re wondering how to build a road through a swamp, depend on Viking Mats for durable construction mats for wetlands.
Swamp Mat Site Considerations
Before purchasing a swamp mat, consider your excavation site. Building on swampy land requires heavy equipment such as wheel loaders, forklifts, cranes and Bobcats. The equipment you choose depends on the project at hand, and heavier equipment may require wider mats for increased weight distribution and maneuverability.
Common Questions About Swamp Mats
Get to know the best strategies for working on wetlands. Here are some common questions about using construction mats for wetlands without ruining your heavy equipment or encountering any disasters.
What are the advantages of using timber mats in wetlands?
Working in wetlands causes great difficulty maneuvering heavy machinery across rugged and swampy terrains. In these situations, it is best to use timber mats to gain traction and reduce the chance of getting your expensive equipment stuck in the mud. Another advantage of using timber mats in wetlands is the flexibility and convenience of being able to cross swamps, mud, and unstable ground without having to build a permanent structure.
Which equipment works best for swamp mats?
Built of hardwood timber 8, 10, or 12-inches thick and 8 to 40 feet long, these construction mats for wetlands are made to support heavy machinery. Common equipment ideal for use with mats includes cranes for oil rigs, timber harvesting equipment, and most track equipment.
How easy is it to install/remove swamp mats?
Installation and removal are streamlined when dealing with high-quality swamp mats. Any new or slightly used mats (grade A or B) will have two good pick points to help with removal. When dealing with grade C used mats, they will be slightly more difficult to remove, however, they should still have one good pick point to use for removing the timber mat.
How do timber mats affect the environment?
Swamp mats are a great alternative to building permanent structures when planning a construction or maintenance project in wetlands. Often times, in timber harvesting situations, you might need to get your harvesting equipment across a stream in order to finish the job. If you don’t use timber mats as a temporary stream crossing, there can be direct as well as indirect consequences on fisheries and water quality such as destruction of habitat, channel changes, vegetation removal, and land clearing that could lead to erosion and sedimentation in the waterway. These can be minimized with the use of swamp mats when installed and removed correctly after harvesting is completed.
How do you clean them?
Cleaning construction mats for wetlands is crucial when using them to preserve the environment around the working area, as well as the endurance of your mats. Once the project is complete, make sure to remove all debris, small and large at the development site. Pressure wash thoroughly using water or air, and finish with a proper sweeping of the entire area of the mat. This will ensure that no insects, viruses, or fungal spores common to wetlands will be transported outside of their natural environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Swamp mats create a stable, temporary roadway across saturated or unstable ground, allowing heavy equipment such as cranes, excavators, and wheel loaders to safely access difficult terrain. Instead of building costly permanent crossings or rerouting equipment around wetlands, swamp mats provide a practical solution that enables crews to move directly through challenging areas.
This approach reduces environmental disturbance, minimizes the risk of machinery becoming stuck in deep mud, and helps keep projects on schedule. By distributing equipment weight and protecting the underlying soil, swamp mats improve jobsite safety while offering a cost-effective alternative to permanent infrastructure.
Contact Us
Wetlands present a significant transportation obstacle when moving heavy equipment, but not one that is insurmountable. With dependable swamp mats from Viking Mat Company at your disposal, you can get from Point A to Point B quickly and stabilize muddy soil no matter how rugged the terrain looks ahead. Contact us for more information or fill out the form for a free quote.
For any question please call 952-941-6512 or email Harvey at info@vikingmat.com.
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00 am – 5:00 pm CST
Office Location: 7480 Flying Cloud Dr., Suite 400 Eden Prairie, MN 55344
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