The Meccano Bridge came about as a result of the need for a footbridge to replace the old horse bridge at Nob End, Little Lever. The construction of a new bridge at this site was to allow the Canal Society to re-route the footpath and make it possible to restore this section of the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal.
Curtin devised a straightforward truss design using parts based on Meccano but scaled up 10 times. Parts were made locally. The project was commissioned by Bolton Council. which also carried out the engineering. Project management was by Bolton at Home Percent for Art and the Canal & River Trust was a consultant.
The project cost US$138,000, though also received thousands of hours of donated labour. Volunteers bolted the structure together during a cold but dry week in December 2012.
“Building a bridge from giant Meccano is the fulfilment of a childhood dream,” said Curtin. “I spent my entire childhood building mechanical devices from Meccano and now we have the largest Meccano set in the world!”
He added: “This project is unique not just in the sense that it is scaled up Meccano but because local people are actually building their own footbridge and as such it is bringing the community together and providing for them a permanent focus in a beautiful setting that is not only functional but a work of public art.”
