School pupils build bridges

Local pupils from Arkleston Primary School in Renfrewshire today (19 May) joined engineers to learn about the construction and installation of the £2.5m Hillington Footbridge.

As part of a week-long school project about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teachers invited roads maintenance operator Scotland TranServ and design firm AECOM to talk about the nearby Hillington Footbridge project.

Pupils discovered their inner creativity by learning about the process of designing and constructing the new Footbridge and then creating their very own structures using just spaghetti and marshmallows.

Head teacher for Arkleston Primary School, Carolyn Johnston commented:

“The visit was a fantastic opportunity for pupils to learn about the construction industry and how the bridge connects the two communities of Renfrew and Hillington.

“The children enjoyed working as part of a team to build their own replica bridges and really impressed the teachers and engineers with their innovative designs.”

The first part of the session saw the engineers discuss the design of the bridge and how it was constructed before being lifted into its final position. Pupils were then given a tour of the bridge to identify the shapes used to create the design and how it is held safely in place before returning to class to build their own bridge models.

David Thomson, senior engineer for Scotland TranServ commented:

“We were delighted to meet with the pupils at Arkleston Primary School and share our experience in designing and building bridges that will stand the test of time.

“It was great seeing the pupils putting what they have learned into their own projects and I’m excited to see that there is a real talent for engineering amongst these young people.”

Paul Reid, Principal Engineer, AECOM added:

“We were excited to be asked to participate in Arkleston Primary School’s STEM week as it is vital to raise awareness of the industry and encourage young people to consider a career in civil engineering.

“The real highlight of the day was seeing the pupils work so well together, taking on board what they learned about the design and shape of a bridge and incorporating this into their own structures.”

Scotland TranServ is committed to working with the local communities in which we live, visit and work to deliver long term, tangible benefits and contribute to the future economic growth of south west Scotland.