Range Rover successfully driven across a bridge made completely from paper

A RANGE ROVER has been successfully driven over a bridge made completely from paper. 

It may seem impossible, but the 2,374 kg motor crossed the bridge with ease thanks to clever engineering across the five-meter long bridge.

The strange event was held in Suzhou, China to mark the 45th anniversary of Land Rover’s Range Rover and was the first time such a thing has been done.

The bridge was made solely from paper and a whopping 54,390 pieces, provided by British manufacturer James Cropper PLC, were used to form the structure.

Engineers then packed the paper tightly together, using no nuts, bolts or glue, to form the bridge.

The quirky bridge was designed by environmental artist Steve Messam and only took three days to build.
“Paper structures capable of supporting people have been built before but nothing on this scale has ever been attempted,” Messam said.

“It's pushing engineering boundaries, just like the Range Rover, and the ease and composure with which the vehicle negotiated the arch was genuinely breath-taking.”

The bridge was constructed using specially designed wooden supports, which are structures made to support the pressure of an arch. Once the paper was packed in tightly, the supports were removed.

Once complete, Land Rover Experience chief instructor Chris Zhou carefully drove gas-guzzler across.
Representatives of the SUV say the lightweight design of the new fourth-generation model, which is made from aluminium instead of steel, played an important role in achieving this feat.

Paper left over from the scheme will be repurposed by Land Rover and recycled locally in China.