Once completed, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will be one of the five longest bridges in North America and the tallest structure in the Windsor-Detroit region. More than 500,000 tons of concrete, 22,000 tons of steel and 5,000 tons of bridge cables will be used to build the bridge.

You can build your own bridge with just toothpicks and mini marshmallows.

Steps:

1. Place two marshmallows with the bases flat on your work surface. Insert one end of a toothpick into the centre of each marshmallow to create a barbell shape. Insert another toothpick in each marshmallow at a 45-degree angle to form a triangle. Insert both bare ends of the toothpicks into another marshmallow to complete the triangle.

Step 1

2. Insert a toothpick into one of the base marshmallows of the first triangle at a 45-degree angle and another toothpick into the side of the top marshmallow. Insert both of the new toothpicks’ bare ends into a new marshmallow. This will create a second inverted triangle. Repeat this process until you have three upright and two inverted triangles that form a trapezoidal shape.

Ste[p 2

3. Repeat the triangle making process from step 1 to create another matching trapezoidal shape. This will run parallel to the first and will be the second side of your span.

Step 3

4. Connect the two sides of the bridge using a total of seven toothpicks to run across from marshmallow to marshmallow. Look down from an overhead view to check that you have three squares at the base and two at the top.

Step 4

5. Extend the length of your bridge if desired by repeating steps 1 to 4.

Step 5

Take a photo of you and your project and share with us and we’ll add it to our Facebook and Twitter feeds, @WDBAbridge #GordieHoweBridge

 

 

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