Short Warren Truss Popsicle Bridge

This popsicle stick bridge was made from 40, unmodified popsicle sticks. The bridge spanned 12 inches, was 4 inches tall and 3 inches wide. I used only Elmer’s white glue to build the bridge. It weighed 57.4 grams (0.13 pounds), and held 90 pounds. Its efficiency score was 712. This is the first popsicle bridges that I built, and it helped me launch into making lots of others.

Even though this was the first popsicle stick bridge I had ever made, it turned out to be quite a success. The goal behind this bridge was to design not only a strong bridge, but design a process for building the bridge that could easily be replicated by almost anyone. That is why I didn’t cut any of the popsicle sticks. That alone would add a lot of complexity to the construction of the popsicle bridge. I made the bridge to easily span 12 inches, which seems to be a common requirement in popsicle stick bridge competitions.

34 Responses to “Short Warren Truss Popsicle Bridge”

1. Samiya - September 5, 2011 at 10:18 pm

   This Demonstration helps me a lot to make a bridge

   Reply
2. Angel - October 3, 2010 at 4:02 pm

   well i wish these blueprints were free but i will try this bridge

   Reply
3. Kwema - May 4, 2010 at 5:30 pm

   I’d like to buy the plans, how can I?

   Reply
   • Garrett Boon - May 4, 2010 at 9:01 pm

     You can purchase the plans here:
     http://www.garrettsbridges.com/store

     Reply
4. brokyeia - April 22, 2010 at 9:48 am

   i am going to try this for my project in science ypu have to see how much weight can a bridge hold. dose this bridge hold a lot of weight?

   Reply
5. Joel Montoya - April 12, 2010 at 9:13 am

   Do you think it will hold a 10 lb. weight. Do you have another design thats is 20in. long, 8 in. wide, 6in. wide

   Reply
6. austin - April 7, 2010 at 11:32 am

   thanks for posting these bridges really helpful

   Reply
7. cr - April 5, 2010 at 4:14 pm

   one thing flip it over and add extensions for the bottom to be the road. we did this with a 36 cm bridge and it held 113 lbs so its a good design

   Reply
8. Kellie - March 22, 2010 at 10:35 am

   I am trying this bridge for a project. it has to hold atleast 50 textbook’s. Hope it can. I will let you know what happens.

   Reply
9. ann - January 11, 2010 at 6:59 pm

   this was a website my teacher recommended..!

   Reply
   • debanhi - August 25, 2010 at 2:39 pm

     I got in this website because the teacher told me so I could learn more of how to make a bridge out of wood and so it can not be destroid when i was in technology

     Reply
10. ann - January 11, 2010 at 6:59 pm

    hey there! i am a student doing a bridge project..and i find this website very very helpful. thank you!

    Reply
11. Jamie jackson - November 13, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    How long is the top of the bridge

    Reply
    • Garrett Boon - November 13, 2009 at 1:39 pm

      Jamie, the top of Popsicle Bridge #1 is 10 inches long.

      Reply
12. George Smith - September 23, 2009 at 6:54 am

    Wow im at school now making a bridge and you,ve helped me alot

    thanks good luck on your next bridge

    Reply
13. Kevin Lagamble - April 21, 2009 at 4:03 pm

    were the wiegths placed so that it was balanced out

    Reply
14. brian - April 20, 2009 at 10:29 pm

    hey, im curious how do you test it or measure the amount of weight the bridge holds

    Reply
15. klarrenz santiago - March 24, 2009 at 8:28 pm

    i am a grade 3 and i have to make a bridge made of 100 popcicle sticks

    Reply
    • chatia - April 2, 2009 at 5:02 pm

      harsh i had 2 do that 2 3 years ago well got to go
      good luck with the bridge

      Reply