River Wey, Hammer Lane

A team was mobilized to facilitate access and deploy six bags of stone into a scour hole located on the bed of a culvert/bridge at Hammer Lane off the A3. Access to the site was via a privately owned field, with a 60-meter distance from the roadside entrance to the riverbank. To prevent damage to the grass, over 80 interlocking mats were laid to create a track for the tracked carrier.

A 5 x 2-meter pontoon, equipped with stanchions and edge protection, was transported along this route and launched into the water to serve as a barge for carrying both stone and personnel. Each bag of stone weighed just under one tonne and was loaded onto the tracked carrier, transported to the river’s edge, and then transferred to the pontoon. The pontoon was floated downstream, where the stones were systematically placed in the designated areas to fill the scour hole. This process was repeated until all materials were deployed.

Personnel operated with appropriate PPE, including water rescue gear, and continuously assessed water depth while providing guidance for stone placement. Two operatives were present throughout the operation to operate equipment and maintain safety oversight. Transit vehicles and a large trailer were utilized for the mobilisation and demobilisation of all equipment. On the first day, two bags of stone were deployed; four more bags were installed on the second day, followed by the commencement of demobilisation. All remaining equipment was removed and the site was cleared on the third day.