Children Build Replica Second Severn Crossing

Budding young engineers from a Carmarthen school have built a miniature version of the Second Severn Crossing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Johnstown Primary School pupils were tasked with building a 35-foot cable-stayed bridge – a model replica of the Second Severn Crossing – from plywood and aluminium. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The activity was linked to the £5 million Carmarthen West Link Road which is currently under construction by Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd, on behalf of the council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s transport and engineering section and Griffiths is engaging with local schools to raise the profile of the construction industry and enthuse potential civil engineers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The ICE Bridge to Schools programme is a hands-on experience for pupils showcasing design and engineering at its simplistic best, in the form of a 35-foot cable-stayed bridge. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This activity enhances pupils learning in a range of national curriculum subjects as well as highlighting careers within the construction industry, such as engineering, quantity surveying and health and safety. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Community liaison officer Gail Jones said: “As pupils construct the replica of the Second Severn Crossing they develop their communication and listening skills and the ability to work together in teams. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Here at Griffiths, we want to be able to promote our industry and inspire the engineers of the future; this activity is a platform to do this and to engage with pupils of all ages.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carmarthen West will link the A40 at Travellers Rest with College Road, reducing congestion and improving access to key employment sites at St David’s Park, the University of Wales Trinity St David and Coleg Sir Gâr. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

#It will also open up development land for 1,100 new houses and associated mixed use development including a new primary school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council received a £1.3 million grant from Welsh Government towards construction. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Executive Board Member for Transport Cllr Hazel Evans said: “I am delighted that our officers, together with Griffiths, have been working with Johnstown School on the bridge project. Hopefully it has given them an insight into the construction industry and inspired them for the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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