Timber decking on a footbridge in Chippenham is being replaced with metal after wrong jointing techniques led to deck boards rotting.
North Wiltshire District Council said the Black Bridge over the River Avon, opened in 2001, remains closed after holes appeared in the decking, with subsequent inspections finding that decking joints had not been constructed in the way the designer had intended.
The council attempted to contact the original bridge contractor but found the company had been dissolved.
The bridge designer told the council that the jointing method used allowed water to affect the ends of adjacent deck boards, promoting wet rot and weakness.
The council said all timber decking would be replaced with metal for the advantages of increased durability and less maintenance.
Timber Decking Association director Steve Young described the decision to remove the timber decking as “sad”.
“If the engineer got the design right but the contractor did not follow the instructions, that’s so typical of what is happening in the construction industry.
“Any material has the potential for premature failure when it’s not installed correctly.”
