Thanks ForestDweller.
The wooden decking of course is not the problem, and it would be nice to know if this bridge is listed, as the decking (including the green ironwork) is lovely. It just needs some proper maintenance every now and then.

The old maps show a very similar bridge over 100 years ago, and it would not surprise me if it was built in 1876 when they built the German church (mk 1), so it has historical interest too. It is a great shame Steve Grindlay no longer posts.

Of course Lewisham/network rail will want an ugly metal cage/box to replace the deck for the protection of the drivers and that is understandable, but the excuses they come up with why they cannot replace the hand rails they ripped off or haven't the room to provide accessibility when there is a dead-end service road one side and an exclusive 90m path the other are ludicrous.

Victorian engineers would have had no problem solving such an enormous problem. The Romans could have solved it, and it would still be standing today.
Engineers today do not seem to have a clue.