The Definitive Guide to Temporary Roadways: Find the Best Trackway for Your Site

Introduction to Temporary Roadways

Choosing the right temporary roadway can feel complicated if you’re not sure which panels match your project.

At TPA, we’ve been supplying access systems across the UK and Europe since 2001, supporting everything from major construction projects to rail and events.

Our team carries out thousands of installs every year, so we know first-hand which panels perform best in different ground conditions, vehicle types and project environments.

This temporary roadway guide brings together all of your options in one place.

 

 

Temporary Roadway Guide at a Glance:

• Which panels can be self-installed and which need our trained crew with a fork truck or lorry loader crane.

• The features and load capacities so you know what each option can handle.

• The applications, from pedestrian walkways and event flooring to heavy haul roads for cranes and transmission works.

• Whether to choose plastic or aluminium panels for your site and what the difference is between the two 

Our aim is to give you clear, practical insight on your temporary roadway options so you can feel confident with the products available to you.

And if you’d rather not worry about the detail, we can take care of it for you. As specialists, we offer consultations plus free on-site and remote surveys, so we’ll recommend the best solution for your project.

 

Temporary Roadway Services

At TPA, we offer flexible temporary roadway services to match the needs of your project. Whether you want the speed and independence of self-install hire or the reassurance of a full service hire, our experience ensures you get the right solution every time.

Self-Install Hire

Our self-install temporary roadway panels are designed for projects where you want flexibility and speed. Products like Zappmat, TerraGuard and Fast Cover Floor Mats are light enough for teams to move by hand, making them perfect for pedestrian routes, events and light vehicles. 

But self-install doesn’t just mean light-duty, options such as MaxiTrack can take cars, vans and even heavier vehicles (depending on ground conditions and layout) while still being portable without a HIAB. This gives you the freedom to create access quickly without additional crew costs.

 

 

Full Service Hire

When you need to move heavy plant, cranes or operate on low-bearing ground, our heavy-duty panels are the safest option. Aluminium roadways, TerraRoad, TuffTrak and Dura-Base are heavier systems that require fork trucks or lorry loader cranes to install. With these, our experienced crews take care of everything from free surveys and design through to delivery and installation. Contact our friendly team today to discuss options.

 

 

Temporary Roadway Products

Self-install Products

These self-install products are designed to be handled without heavy machinery, giving you control over access while still supporting vehicles depending on ground conditions. We provide delivery, documentation, and expert support so you can install with confidence.

 

Fast Cover Floor Mats: Our lightest panel at under 20kg, making it easy for one person to carry and install without tools or anchors. Ideal for pedestrians on soft ground or light vehicles on solid, level surfaces.

 

 

TerraGuard: Made up of small interlocking panels that form larger sheets, weighing around 21.6kg. Ideal for pedestrian areas or light vehicles on solid surfaces.

 

 

Zappmat: A full-size ground protection panel, for rapid coverage of larger areas. It supports pedestrian and vehicle access, weighing around 35kg per panel.

 

 

MaxiTrack: The heaviest-duty self-install option, this trackway provides support for medium to heavy loads. It’s ideal for construction, plant access, and utility projects.

 

 

Serviced hire (installed by TPA)

These products are available through TPA’s temporary roadway serviced hire solution, and are listed into place via fork truck or lorry loader cranes.

 

Heavy-Duty Aluminium Panels: available in 3m and 4m widths, engineered to support up to a 250-tonne point load and a 1,000-tonne gross train weight (depending on ground conditions). Excellent for cross-country access, temporary car parks, work compounds, and a variety of heavy-duty temporary access needs.

 

 

Steerable Panels: attach to aluminium panels to create curves of up to 30 degrees to create smooth, non-linear access routes around obstacles like trees, buildings, or uneven terrain.

 

 

TerraRoad: weighing around 206 kg per panel and built from durable plastic. It delivers a load capacity of up to 600 psi depending on ground conditions, ideal for heavy vehicles, machinery, and high-traffic work pads or trackways.

 

 

TuffTrak: a step up from TerraRoad, these 40mm thick plastic panels support up to 60 tonnes, subject to panel configuration and ground conditions. Suitable for higher load-bearing capacities for heavy vehicles and machinery on demanding sites. 

 

 

Dura-Base: Built to withstand compressive loads of up to 40kg/cm² (600 psi), Dura-Base panels are suitable for access across challenging terrains such as grasslands, wetlands, marshlands, and fields. Its 300mm overlapping lips prevent mud, water or soil from leaking onto the mat.

 

All capacities are dependent on ground conditions and panel layout. Free surveys and advice available to confirm the right spec and configuration for your site.

 

Plastic vs Aluminium Temporary Roadway

When it comes to temporary roadways, one of the biggest decisions is whether to choose plastic or aluminium panels. Each has its own strengths, and the right choice depends on your ground conditions, load requirements, and project environment.

Our team of experts is always here to help if you are unsure.

 

Plastic Roadways

Plastic panels like TerraRoad, TuffTrak, MaxiTrack and Zappmat are versatile, durable, and made from 100% recycled materials. They’re generally lighter than aluminium, which makes them easier to transport and, in some cases, install without heavy machinery. Plastic is also non-conductive, making it safer for use around transmission sites, and its flexibility helps it absorb uneven ground. These panels are ideal for environmentally sensitive areas, events, or medium to heavy-duty vehicle access, depending on the system chosen.

 

Aluminium Roadways

Aluminium panels are engineered for the heaviest-duty projects, where extremely high load-bearing capacity and maximum stability are required. They’re longer and wider than plastic mats, which means fewer joints and faster coverage of large haul roads. Aluminium panels perform exceptionally well on unstable ground, can handle the largest cranes and tracked machinery, and are favoured on long-term projects where strength and efficiency are critical.

 

Which Temporary Roadway Should You Choose?

With such a wide range of temporary roadway products, it’s not always about picking just one. In fact, some projects call for a hybrid installation, combining aluminium and plastic panels to get the best of both.

This flexible approach means you can place aluminium panels where maximum strength is required and use lighter, non-conductive plastic panels where ground conditions or safety demand it. By mixing the two, you get the right solution in the right place, tailored to the unique challenges of your site.

Talk to our team today to chat about the best access for your project.

 

Ready to Find the Right Temporary Roadway?

With so many temporary roadway options available, the best solution often depends on your site conditions, load requirements, and project timelines. At TPA, our expertise lies in making that choice straightforward.

We offer consultations and free site surveys to assess your project and recommend the most efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable access plan. Contact our team today to discuss your requirements and let us take the pressure off choosing, so you can focus on delivering your project.