Pontoon bridge

Pontoon Bridge is a structure above the water, which has floating supports, which are called pontoons. A variety is a floating bridge, in which there are no separate pontoons, and the span structures perform the function of "buoyancy". Such facilities were used to organize temporary transfers in case of emergency conditions or during the repair of stationary bridges, in wartime and in the work to eliminate the consequences of hurricanes and natural disasters. But there are many examples where the pontoon bridge is functioning permanently (in Russia - Pavlovo, Biysk, Tarko-Sale, Urengoi).

The facilities on the pontoons have many advantages. First of all, they are transportable. They are easy to move on water and in disassembled condition overland. The second advantage is quick installation. However, there are significant shortcomings. Pontoon bridges create problems for navigation, they have a low bearing capacity, since their stability depends on the level of water, wind, waves. They can not be exploited during the freeze-up and ice drift.

Pontoon crossing is the result of a complex engineering process that requires special technologies and knowledge. Plastic modules facilitate this process. The pontoon bridge is a prefabricated structure consisting of floating elements. Such prefabricated structures are used for both vehicles and pedestrians.

The external "lightness" and simplicity of the entire structure does not reduce the load-carrying capacity, so such bridges are used for military purposes.

Benefits

Pontoon Bridge is a modular design that is easily assembled in a relatively short time. In this case, the assembly does not require any special technical skills and knowledge.

Such a structure is modularly expandable, and if necessary, it is easy to change its width and shape.

Modules made of plastic are wear-resistant, not exposed to acids, sea water, low temperature. Pontoon bridges based on plastic modules are used on any surface of the water, are not harmful to the environment, do not violate the aquatic fauna and flora, and resist currents and waves.

Interesting Facts

• The pontoon system was personally developed by the Austrian engineer Carl von Birago, who commanded the first pontoon military corps in history. This system has become widespread in all major European armies.
• In Russia, the longest pontoon bridge has a length of almost 750 meters. It connects the suburbs of Khabarovsk with the Great Ussuri island. This bridge connects the island and the right bank of the Amur Channel, it has been operating since 2002 from late May to October, agricultural machinery and motor vehicles are moving along it. Before the organization of the bridge, the Big Ussuri island with the city was connected by a ferry crossing. In winter, the island gets on the ice, and during the freeze-up and ice drift the island from the "big earth" remains cut off. The bridge is planted once a day, so as not to disrupt the work of Chinese and Russian vessels.
• It is interesting that in case of improper operation, the pontoon bridge can "float away". This happened, for example, in 2005 in the city of Novokuznetsk, when the bridge across the Kondoma River was blown away by the current.