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Ground Screw and Helical Screw Pile Foundations for Raised Roads and Walkways

Elevated platforms for vehicle and pedestrian access enable projects with restrictions such as tree preservation orders, root protection areas, and waterways to become reality. Whether you need a road for fire engine access, car parking in an urban area, or a bridge over a river – our ground screw and helical screw pile foundations provide the answer.

Powys bridge ground screw installation

The benefits of screw foundations for roads and walkways

  • Rapid Installation

    Fast and effective installation which requires no digging or concrete, creating an immediate foundation for your structure.

  • Tested and Quantifiable

    Our ground screws can be compression load tested, and our helical screw piles are installed with calibrated torque monitoring. Both produce certified data for engineer and local authority approval.

  • Designed to last

    Our ground screws are fully galvanised to BS EN 1461:2009. Our helical screw piles are manufactured to EN 1090-1, ISO 3834, and EN ISO 1461 – with a design life of up to 100 years.

  • Immediately load bearable

    Both ground screws and helical screw piles are immediately load-bearing – construction of the raised structure starts as soon as installation is complete.

  • Permanent or temporary structures

    Suitable for permanent or temporary structures and easily removable without site damage.

  • Environmentally friendly

    No excavation means no disruption to tree root systems, no contamination of waterways, and no damage to ecologically sensitive sites. Reduced CO2 compared to concrete.

  • Reduced Disruption

    Screw foundations produce minimal vibration and noise – important for installations in urban areas, near residential properties, or on environmentally sensitive sites.

Helical screw pile foundations for raised roads and vehicle access

For raised roads, vehicle access platforms, and bridges carrying substantial structural loads, our helical screw pile foundations are the primary solution. They deliver the load capacity, certified data, and long-term performance these projects demand:

  • Machine-installed using tracked machines or excavators from 1.5t to 20t with calibrated torque monitoring
  • Handles substantial compression, tensile, and shear loads – essential for vehicle-bearing structures
  • Can be installed at a range of angles to suit design requirements for raked or battered piles
  • Every pile produces a comprehensive torque pile log recording installation torque, depth, pile identification, and performance data
  • Certified load capacity reports generated through deep foundation software – meeting the documentation standards required by highways authorities and local councils
  • Stock sizes from 76R to 140R, with bespoke manufacturing to match the engineering specification
  • Manufactured to EN 1090-1 (CE/UKCA), EN 1090-2 (execution class EXC2 or EXC3), ISO 3834 (welding quality), and EN ISO 1461 (hot-dip galvanising)
  • Not weather-dependent – installation carries on in conditions that would delay concrete
  • Safe and practical for use on contaminated land
  • Design life of up to 100 years

Raised Platforms in Root Protection Areas

Our helical screw piles and ground screws provide a solution for soil compaction and root damage in root protection areas by transferring the area loading into point loads via an elevated frame. By avoiding soil excavation and the introduction of concrete contaminants, our screw foundation systems offer an ideal solution to safeguard tree roots. This preservation method ensures the open pore structure needed for moisture and air flow conducive to healthy root growth.

Alongside preserving the tree root system and enabling a project to become feasible, we can design the system to include block paving or other finishing methods to suit the project – so you wouldn’t even know it was there. We provide:

  • Full design of structural elements and pile design
  • Site-specific load testing with findings report
  • Comprehensive torque pile logs for helical screw pile installations
  • Steel fabrication and sub bases
  • GPS mark out and GPR (ground penetration radar)
  • Installation of the steel frame

Boardwalks & Bridges

Boardwalks serve as the primary means of accessing natural environments, providing access to areas that would otherwise be inaccessible in wetlands. With years of expertise, we have successfully installed boardwalks and footbridges in challenging conditions, including uneven terrain, swampy and boggy wetlands.

Our experience extends to addressing difficult circumstances, ensuring safe, clean access for visitors to areas that might otherwise be hazardous.

For lighter pedestrian boardwalks and nature trails, ground screws offer a fast and low-impact solution that can be carried to site by hand. For bridges and walkways with higher structural loads or vehicle access requirements, our helical screw piles provide:

  • The load capacity for vehicle and heavy pedestrian traffic
  • Certified torque pile logs for structural engineer and local authority sign-off
  • Installation in waterlogged and boggy ground conditions where concrete would be impractical

Check out our case studies page to see our related projects.

Why choose our screw foundations for roads and walkways?

  • Our own design-developed system following 15 years of experience
  • Experience in designing bespoke frames and fixing details
  • Third-party engineering and fabrication support
  • Ground screws for lighter boardwalks and pedestrian access
  • Helical screw piles for raised roads, bridges, and vehicle access platforms
  • Fixed length and extendable ground screws for high loading requirements
  • Site-specific load testing with findings report
  • Comprehensive torque pile logs for helical screw pile installations
  • GPS mark out and GPR (ground penetration radar)
  • Steel fabrication and sub bases
  • Nationwide installation service with our trained in-house operatives

Frequently asked questions

  • Yes. Our helical screw piles are designed for substantial vertical, lateral, and shear loads, making them suitable for raised roads carrying vehicle traffic. They’re machine-installed with calibrated torque monitoring and produce the certified load data that highways authorities and local councils require.

  • Yes. Both ground screws and helical screw piles avoid excavation and concrete contamination, making them an ideal foundation solution in root-protection areas and on sites with tree preservation orders. They transfer loads into point loads via an elevated frame, preserving the soil structure needed for healthy root growth.

  • Yes. We provide a full package, including helical screw pile or ground screw foundations, steel fabrication, sub-bases, and fixing details. We also work with third-party engineering and fabrication partners where the project requires it.

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