ENGINEERING students from Queen's University are hoping to set a new world record after building a 100ft footbridge in Belfast, made entirely of Meccano.
Around 11,000 pieces, weighing a total 600kg, of Meccano were used to build the bridge, which is to span more than 100 feet across Belfast's Clarendon Dock.
The footbridge, which will be unveiled on Saturday September 19, was designed and built by a group of Civil Engineering students and local school children.
Representatives from Guinness World Records will be on site to confirm if the project has earned a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest ever Meccano construction.
The ambitious year-long project was the brainchild of academics and students from the School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, as part of the University’s outreach programme to encourage more children to think about careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Members of the public are invited to the bridge opening, where they will get the chance to speak to students and academics about the project and ask questions about civil engineering at Queen’s.
Dr Danny McPolin from the School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, who led the project, said: “We see this event not only as an opportunity to celebrate the students’ and staff’s incredible work over the past year, but also a chance to give local children an insight into the exciting courses on offer at Queen’s.
"We hope to welcome as many youngsters as possible on the day and cement their interest in studying Civil Engineering and other STEM subjects at University level.”
Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure Carál Ní Chuilín said that the project 'underlines the importance of creative in design and the built environment.'
“While underlining the importance of the creative industries, the Meccano bridge shows what can happen when we take new approaches and look for innovative solutions," she said.
"While this initiative is as much about the journey as the destination, to end with a new world record would be a fantastic achievement. It would truly reflect the efforts of all those who have taken an unusual idea and turned into a creative reality."
The unveiling is expected to run from noon until 3pm with judgement by Guinness expected at 12.30pm.
The Meccano bridge will be lit during the evenings of Friday September 18 and Saturday September 19, before being dismantled on Sunday, September 20.
The project has received funding from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, AECOM, Meccano and Queen’s Annual Fund as well as technical support and advice from civil engineering contractors, McLaughlin and Harvey.
