Civil engineering students at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) have successfully built the worlds longest Meccano bridge.

The 30 metre long structure was lowered by McLaughlin & Harvey across the Clarendon Dock.

Officials from the Guinness Book of Records verified the record attempt in a ceremony on Saturday, 19 September.

McLaughlin & Harvey provided technical expertise, resources and a warehouse in which the bridge components were assembled and tested.

On-site engineers managed the relocation of the structure to the Clarendon Dock, along with its installation across the water.


The overall length of the bridge is 28.76 metres and the main span is 18 metres. The height of the structure is 6.25m and weighs 600kg.

Overall, 11,000 pieces of Meccano were used on the year-long project.

John McCarey, Chief Engineer at McLaughlin & Harvey, said: "It has been exciting working closely with both the academics and students of Queen's university on this successful record attempt. Through our experience we have been able to support these engineers of the future create something that people around the world will be able to see. To have built an entire structure just from Meccano required a great deal of technical expertise and we are pleased that our team has been part of that."

Danny McPolin, Senior Structures Lecturer at Queen's University, added: "This event is not only an opportunity to celebrate the student and staff's incredible work over the past year, but also a chance to show local children more about the opportunities in STEM based careers and encourage them to consider a future studying civil engineering."

The bridge will remain at the docks until it is dismantled later this month.

(LM/MH)