Timber works on the myriad of temporary pedestrian bridges at the Olympic Park site are approaching their final stages.
Most of the 30 pedestrian and car bridges on the London site have now been completed and feature large amounts of timber decking and other wood products.
One of the latest pedestrian bridges to be built involves about 12,000 linear metres of FSC-certified Siberian larch louvre cladding being installed by contractor BAM Nuttall over Stratford High Street.
Concerns that the ageing effects of the sun would leave the cladding grey by the time of next year’s Games saw it specified with a new timber treatment – Arch Tanalised Clear – to maintain the natural look.
Hoppings Softwood Products, which supplied the larch, said treating the product slowed the weathering process and ensured greater consistency to the various bridge aspects, helping it to look as good as possible during the Games. Other timber products being supplied on the bridge include laminated capping rails and newel posts, stair risers and anti-slip pressure treated softwood decking.
Hoppings marketing and technical director Adam Pulfer said the company’s supply of timber for three of the Olympic Park pedestrian bridges and two underpasses, represented its biggest -ever single contract and estimated it had supplied or had received orders for 50,000 linear metres of decking.
One of the bridges featured a secret fix decking installation system so deck boards can be reused after the Olympics.
Meanwhile, John Brash has supplied more than 80,000 linear metres of its JB Citideck smooth anti-slip decking for four other bridges, with a further 40,000 linear metres of castellated decking for balconies in the Olympics Village.
Tests John Brash carried out with the Olympic Delivery Authority showed that castellated decking could create a “rumble” action for bikes and wheelchairs which could be made worse by the raised profile of Brash’s standard anti-slip inserts. Brash’s smooth DeckSure Premier board, injected with a slightly less abrasive grit, was specified instead.
