Cox’s Walk closure

[Brian up the hill]

For those the many who use Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Woods, be aware that from today, access via Cox’s Walk will be closed from the Grove Tavern entrance. This is to allow heavy machinery to move along Cox’s Walk to the bridge which is being rebuilt. It looks from the attached map that this applies also to the Lapsewood Walk entrance, where it seems that the steps down will be closed from the seat on the corner to the kissing gate on the eastern side of the bridge. This means that entry to the Wood can be made only from Crescent Wood Road, Grange Lane and Low Cross Wood Lane. The bridge reconstruction is scheduled to be completed in March. 

Project Notification Cox's Walk Footbridge Refurbishment.pdf

[Angelina]

Thank you Brian - very helpful to know that.

[Sue]

Thanks for the information, but what a pain.

I would have thought the heavy machinery could have shared the path with walkers? 

[Brian up the hill]

It looks like the entrance to the Wood from the eastern side of Cox’s Walk/Lapsewood Walk is still open. Not sure is it will close in the future but still ok for access today.

[Rockets]

That is a shame - I suspect the machinery will probably be blocking the area in front of the gate near the bridge and it looks like they will use Cox's Walk for access and movement of materials.

[Sydney Carton]

Is it open yet?

[Brian up the hill]

The last I heard was that an artificial wood is being used for the superstructure. I believe the bridge was rebuilt sometime in the 1980s so it’s evident that natural wood does not last very long in such a damp location. This alternative material is coming from Australia and has been delayed due to the Red Sea being closed and international shipping being diverted around the Cape. 

[alice]

££££££

[Sue]

1 hour ago, Brian up the hill said:

The last I heard was that an artificial wood is being used for the superstructure. I believe the bridge was rebuilt sometime in the 1980s so it’s evident that natural wood does not last very long in such a damp location. This alternative material is coming from Australia and has been delayed due to the Red Sea being closed and international shipping being diverted around the Cape. 

I think that artificial wood is often used now for bridges  in nature reserves etc

Obviously cheaper in the long term as it won't need replacing so often, and I think less slippery, so safer.

And it looks ok.

But I might be completely wrong 😀

[alex_b]

On 02/05/2024 at 16:47, Brian up the hill said:

The last I heard was that an artificial wood is being used for the superstructure. I believe the bridge was rebuilt sometime in the 1980s so it’s evident that natural wood does not last very long in such a damp location. This alternative material is coming from Australia and has been delayed due to the Red Sea being closed and international shipping being diverted around the Cape. 

I was told the work had stopped because of the bird nesting season. 

[pebs]

I spoke to one of the workmen last week and he said a couple more months...

[DuncanW]

Genuine question - what on earth is artificial wood?

 

[Sue]

6 minutes ago, DuncanW said:

Genuine question - what on earth is artificial wood?

 

It's a man made material which looks like wood, with the grain etc, but is more suitable for using on outdoor surfaces eg because it doesn't rot.

Edited May 13 by Sue