Walk This Way: Durable Trex Composite Decking Is Smart Choice For Bridges and Walkways

Since composite deck boards first rolled off the production line in the 1990s, builders and architects have chosen the high-performing, low-maintenance boards to make myriad of structures. In addition to the most obvious use – backyard decks – you’ll find signage, garden beds and even playground equipment made from the sturdy material. They’re also a smart choice for walkways, boardwalks, and bridges.

HGTV® Dream Home 2023 features a bridge made from Trex Transcend® Lineage™ decking connecting the home’s backyard to a Trex® Pergola™ tucked away under a grove of pine trees. Charcoal Black Trex Signature® Rod Rail was installed on one side of the bridge that crosses over a dry bed, connecting to the quaint outdoor spot perfect for quiet reflection or a fun night with friends.

Here are a few of our other favorite walkways, boardwalks, and bridges designed with Trex composite decking.

Race Street Pier

Trex decking was chosen in 2011 to create much of the public areas for a 43,200-square-foot riverside park along Philadelphia’s waterfront. The Race Street Pier required a durable walking surface to withstand the city’s tough Northeast weather and heavy foot traffic at the revitalized site. Trex was the ideal choice for the upper-level boardwalk called the Sky Promenade as well as a seating area terrace that links the park’s upper and lower levels.

Shenandoah Valley Museum

A wetland in Winchester, Va., is home to mallards, birds, cranes and turtles, as well as the humans who flock there each day to walk and exercise on the floating boardwalk and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. This walkway is one of the highlights of a three-mile trail system built by the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and completed in 2021.

Texas Park

When Bringle Lake Park in Texarkana, TX, underwent a nearly $3M renovation in 2014, a floating fishing dock and walkway were crafted from Trex composite decking and railing. Walkways connect various parts of the park that meander through the 15 acres of preserved wetlands.

Provo Utah School

The addition of new dorms at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, required a restructuring to the campus layout and a need for a new pedestrian walkway under a grove of trees and around a serene pond. A boardwalk was created using Trex Transcend decking in Spiced Rum, with durable properties architects knew could hold up to the students and visitors with beauty that perfectly complimented the natural surroundings.

Seashore Boardwalk

Trex decking is a popular choice for building oceanside boardwalks because of its strong durable shell and splinter-free properties. The fade-, stain-, scratch- and mold-resistant decking also can withstand the abuse that comes with summer visitors. 

After Hurricane Sandy devastated many boardwalks along the Jersey shoreline, Trex decking was chosen to rebuild a number of them. The dark and earthy tones of Transcend Spiced Rum and Lava Rock boards were used to rebuild the 1.3-mile Belmar Boardwalk, securing years of performance that would have been impossible with wood planks.

Eagle Scout Project

When one teenage Boy Scout wanted to give his family’s early-generation, uncapped Trex decking new life, he created an Eagle Service Project to turn the former pool deck into an expansive bridge. Along with family and friends, Nikolas Angell spent nearly 300 hours to upcycle more than 2,000 pounds of material and complete a 4-foot-wide bridge spanning 75 feet across a stream and wet area. The walkway gives bikers and hikers in his community a safe path while earning Nikolas his Eagle rank, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America.

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