The wooden footbridge problem in the Thames area

The wooden footbridge short life expectancy problem in the Thames area is growing steadily.  Follow the links below for the details

Temple Footbridge closed (May 2023) until further notice (maybe £8m to replace)

Berry Hill footbridge – partially repaired but still rotting (£0.5m spent to date)

Ashford Lane Footbridge (Dorney) collapsed into Jubilee River (June 2025) (say £2m to replace)

Black Potts footbridge (Datchet) – closed  June 2025 and awaiting structural survey (say £2m to replace)

Myrke footbridge (Eton) – still standing – but allow £2m to replace

Here is a really interesting article on the structural health of timber bridges

In conclusion – I previously requested an AI assessment of the multiple local timber footbridge issues with the focus on the cause.  The answer is as follows:

Common Failing Pattern

These bridges share a pattern where they were built as cost-effective timber solutions (Temple in 1989, Berry Hill around the same era) but have systematically failed after 30-35 years rather than their intended 50+ year lifespan. The combination of river environment exposure, inadequate preservation treatment, and insufficient maintenance budgets has created a recurring infrastructure crisis requiring expensive emergency closures and replacements.

The fundamental issue appears to be that the initial cost savings of timber construction are offset by shortened operational life and high replacement costs, making them poor long-term value compared to more durable materials.

If you know of any other timber footbridges that match this failure pattern please contact me.

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