Needing a facelift: Iconic Meccano beams reach end of working life
It is certainly not pretty and even called ugly, but for the thousands of locals and motorists using it, it is iconic. And they don’t want it changed.
It is certainly not pretty but for the locals and motorists using it, it is iconic. And they don’t want it changed.
For many years since it opened in 1962, passing the Meccano set at the intersection of the Hume Highway, Woodville Road and Henry Lawson Drive, meant they were leaving Sydney.
Now south west Sydney’s iconic Meccano is being given its first renovation since it was built in 1962, with Roads and Maritime Services beginning work from Saturday, May 11.
RMS said the community voted “overwhelming” to keep it and not replace it with a normal traffic intersection.
All the horizontal beams are being replaced with RMS saying they have reached the end of their working life.
The new beams are being produced by Padstow-based Chess Engineering which has been working with RMS for more than 15 years.
RMS Director of Sydney Maintenance David Fishburn agreed there was nothing attractive about the structure but said community voted overwhelming to keep it when they undertook the consultation last year.
“It is not pretty but it is a landmark which people love,” said Mr Fishburn, who grew up in the Bankstown area.
“I remember in those days when we were kids and going south on holidays, once we get through the meccano set, we yell that we are leaving Sydney.
“On our return journey we see the meccano set and say we are back in Sydney and its back to school tomorrow.”
The Meccano Set is has total weight of about 25 tonnes with four beams. Each beam is 32m in length and five tonnes in weight, including the signs and lanterns.
There are four columns and each one is six metres in height and one to 1.5 tonnes in weight.
“In the past, Roads and Maritime Services considered replacing the structure with free standing traffic lights but decided against it after receiving such strong support in favour of the structure,” Mr Fishburn said.
“To keep this important point of reference in place, work will now be carried out to replace the existing structure with a new replica.”
Mr Fishburn said work to replace the structure will be carried out across four weekends to minimise the impact to motorists.
Gurvinder Singh, Project Manager, Chess Engineering, said they are delighted to be involved with the new-look Meccano set.
“Of course, because it is an outstanding landmark feature — most of Sydney are aware of it,” Mr Singh said.
“Yes, we are especially proud of our engagement and ability to replace such a complex and significant local feature.
“Chess Engineering likes to involve in iconic projects in Sydney.
“Last year we completed the fabrication and installation of 34 metre gantry and sign structures for Pacific Highway upgrade at Beresfield.
“We drive under such works and it reminds us of the competency of Australian workers.
“Chess Engineering is doing work for RMS directly or indirectly for last 15 years.
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“That includes fabrication and installation of road mobile median strips, sign structures, VMS sign structure, toll and sign gantries.
“Recently we supplied a toll gantry 37 metre long for the south side of Sydney Harbour Bridge. “We also worked for the RMS Crashlab on various projects.”
Chess Engineering’s main factory is at Padstow, which employs 95 employees between ages of 20 -81yrs. They have another factory in Perth.
Work will be carried out on each side of the intersection across different weekends to ensure there is minimal impact on motorists.
Detours will be in place so motorists and heavy vehicle operators are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra travel time.
All road users are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the direction of all signs and traffic control.
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