The use continued in references found in U.S. The spelling "ponton" in English dates from at least 1870. The decking may be temporary or permanent, and constructed out of wood, modular metal, or asphalt or concrete over a metal frame. The supporting boats or floats can be open or closed, temporary or permanent in installation, and made of rubber, metal, wood, or concrete. The water buoyancy supports the boats, limiting the maximum load to the total and point buoyancy of the pontoons or boats. 6 Permanent pontoon bridges in civilian useĪ pontoon bridge is a collection of specialized, shallow draft boats or floats, connected together to cross a river or canal, with a track or deck attached on top.Pontoon bridges have been in use since ancient times and have been used to great advantage in many battles throughout history, such as the Battle of Garigliano, the Battle of Oudenarde, the crossing of the Rhine during World War II, and during the Iran–Iraq War's Operation Dawn 8. Such bridges can require a section that is elevated or can be raised or removed to allow waterborne traffic to pass. Permanent floating bridges are useful for sheltered water crossings if it is not considered economically feasible to suspend a bridge from anchored piers.
There are permanent pontoon bridges in civilian use that can carry highway traffic.
Most pontoon bridges are temporary and used in wartime and civil emergencies. The buoyancy of the supports limits the maximum load that they can carry. Generally not, but may have movable sections for watercraft passageĪ pontoon bridge (or ponton bridge), also known as a floating bridge, uses floats or shallow- draft boats to support a continuous deck for pedestrian and vehicle travel. Various: steel, concrete, boats, barrels, plastic floats, appropriate decking material
United States Army troops cross the Rhine on a heavy pontoon bridge during Operation Plunder, March 1945