Special bridge to be constructed for Crick Boat Show

A bridge is constructed every year for the show, enabling thousands of visitors to cross the Grand Union Canal safely from Crick village.

This year, for the first time, show contractors Cape Plc will be assembling the bridge using the revolutionary Swedish HAKI scaffolding system.

Dan Barnett, contract delivery manager for the Canal & River Trust, explains: “Thousands of Crick Boat Show visitors will cross the temporary 20 metre span footbridge across the Grand Union Leicester Line, providing safe and scenic access to the event’s showground from the towpath side of the canal and Crick village.

“For the first time ever at the event, our contractors will be using the new purpose designed HAKI pedestrian access system, designed and made in Sweden, which offers a safe and ergonomic solution.

“HAKI systems have previously been used at events across the world, including Silverstone, St Petersburg Music Festival and the London 2012 Olympics.

“It will take approximately three days and a team of five highly trained people to build the structure.

“Each component is systematically erected by following a complex design which has been produced by Cape Plc’s own in-house design engineers.”

Lee Holmes, contracts manager for Cape Plc, says: “We are delighted to have been invited by Vinci Facilities and The Canal & River Trust to construct the pedestrian footbridge at Crick Boat Show this year.

“The HAKI pedestrian system with staircase access, provides the full solution for gaining safe access to the event.

“The specially engineered two metre wide bridge with high loading capability is ideal to carry the large number of visitors expected at the event, providing safe access across the canal. It’s safe and efficient to build, reducing construction time compared to the more traditional tube and fitting method.”

The Crick Boat Show & Waterways Festival, which takes place at Crick Marina, near Daventry in Northamptonshire, is on from May 23 to 25, and is expected to attract 25,000 people over the three days.

Organised by Waterways World magazine in partnership with the Canal & River Trust and Crick Marina, the annual event showcases the inland waterways industry, with over 250 exhibitors from across the canal world.

Crick Boat Show offers dozens of new boats to look round, free boat trips, free fun fair and children’s activities, live music, a real ale marquee, and a large variety of food and drink stalls.

It will be open from 10am till 6pm every day except the Monday when it closes at 5pm. Evening entertainment runs from 7.30pm to 11.30pm.

Adult ticket prices on the gate are £14.50, under fives go free and tickets for children aged five to 16 are £8 on the day. All children go free on Monday May 25. Senior Citizens and concessions are £12 on the day. Family tickets (two adults and up to three children) are £37 on the day. Three-day tickets are also available.

For more information visit www.crickboatshow.com or call 01283 742970.