My Lego Bridge

This project began with a random email. A woman I had never met sent an email to me requesting my help with a special project. She wanted a Lego sculpture to be built during a computer expo. in Sand Diego, CA. I was interested in this project, and proceeded to conceive several designs as possibilities. Some of these included a huge computer cable, a suspension bridge, a human figure resembling the Greek Atlas, among others. In order to determine what the company wanted and required, I was in constant communication with the company, which liked the suspension bridge idea above all others.

The initial design was drawn in MS-Windows95 paintbrush, and the progression of the design is shown here:

(Click on any thumbnail for a full-size image with detail...)

These designs are conceived using Lego Technic pieces, though we were unable to purchase the needed quantities and type directly from Lego, so we had to use Ritvik Megabloks. These are slightly lower quality but are the same size and shape as the Lego bricks. Megabloks do not come in a Technic-type variety, so the entire bridge design was changed, the redesign is shown here:

(Click on thumbnail for a full-size image with detail...)

The final design is just a bit shorter (length & height), with suspension cables as well. The design measured 5' tall, 15.5' long (including brick bases), and 18" wide (20" wide brick bases.) The final bridge measures about 14' long and 4' high, 18" (20" bases) wide.

The parts ordered were the following:

Part #	Type	Size	Color	Quantity Needed	Quantity per case	Cost per case	Cases Ordered	Total Cost
M1023F	Micro	1x8	Black	1980	5000	$266.20	1	$266.20
M0903F	Micro	2x4	Black	3300	5000	$137.50	1	$137.50
M1023A	Micro	1x8	Red	1100	5000	$268.50	1	$268.50
M0901A	Micro	2x4	Red	10596	15000	$137.50	3	$612.50
M0901D0	Micro	1x2	Red	4992	22000	$286.00	1	$286.00
M0901D0	Micro	1x2	Grey	8960	22000	$286.00	1	$286.00
M0949D0	Micro	2x4 (1/3)	Grey	33738	10900	$267.05	4	$1335.25
M0959D0	Micro	1x4 (1/3)	Grey	5500	20500	$369.00	1	$369.00
M0939D0	Micro	1x2 (1/3)	Grey	5184	50000	$825.00	1	$825.00
TOTAL	-	-	-	75350	218100	-	14	$4185.95

Some Lego Technic pieces were also purchased, to construct the suspension cables for this bridge. The cost was approximately $430 for about 110 service parts kits... (20% discount for a bulk order.)

These parts (14 boxes measuring 12" x 14" x 18") arrived at my home in Lubbock, TX on Saturday, February 1, 1997. I immediately began construction and finished on Tuesday, February 11, 1997. Several images and a small video have been created, some of the images are posted here, the video is for my brother in Japan to see.

I spent a total of approximately 10 days working on this project every waking hour, so that totals about 120 hours.

Click on any image for a full-size version:

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Here I am with the bridge at the first show.

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The suspension cables (Lego Technic) & detail of the many pieces of the main bridge span.

. .
The official mutt test (using our cooperative dog, Bailey) & detail of the base (one on each end).

The complete bridge at home.

Send

E-Mail to the Greek!!
( clampe@mednet.swmed.edu )