HS2 has unveiled the latest bridge to be completed on the project and which will carry the high-speed line under the A452 Kenilworth Road, located near Balsall Common, West Midlands.
A team of 50 people based on-site celebrated the final installations on the self-contained ‘box’ bridge structure following an 18-month build process. This involved successfully installing 12 parapets, which will act as safety barriers when traffic eventually passes over the bridge.
The colossal structure is 185 metres in length, 19.5 metres in width and 13.9 metres in height – constructed using 7,200 cubic metres of concrete and 1,800 tonnes of steel.
With the structure now complete, work will begin on the embankments and landscaping the surrounding area on both sides of the bridge, as part of the A452 realignment. The team will reuse 80,000 cubic metres of material excavated from a nearby HS2 cutting made below ground level in Berkswell, Coventry. The backfill process will ensure the structure is enclosed ahead of the road being moved over the new bridge in early 2025, creating space for the railway to pass underneath.
The huge operation has been delivered by HS2’s construction partner for the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), who are constructing 90 kilometres of HS2 between Long Itchington in Warwickshire to the centre of Birmingham and on to Staffordshire. Civil engineering and groundwork specialists Galldris supported BBV with the complex build programme.
Rail Minister Lord Hendy said:
“It’s great to see another key HS2 milestone reached, following 18 months of dedicated work from the project team.
“I congratulate everyone who has worked on the successful delivery of the bridge, which puts us one step closer to completing this once in a generation railway that will transform journeys for millions.”
Jack King, HS2 Project Manager, said:
“Completion of the A452 Kenilworth Road overbridge signifies a proud moment for everyone working on the project.
“As we celebrate the installation of the final parapets this week, I’d like to thank our civils contractor, designers and everyone from our wider supply chain, who are safely and successfully delivering this huge feat of engineering.”
Shamus Banaghan, Senior Project Manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI, said:
“This bridge is a key structure that will allow HS2 trains to pass underneath the A452 near Balsall Common. Standing almost 14 metres high and 185 metres in length, the scale of this achievement is clear to see.
“The recent installation of the final parapets on the roof deck is a special moment for the entire BBV delivery team and our key supply chain partners, who’ve worked tirelessly over the past 18 months to reach this point.”
The overbridge was designed by the Mott MacDonald and SYSTRA Design Joint Venture (MMSDJV), for Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), and this marks the completion of a complex design process.
Tim Noble, Sublot Manager at MMSDJV, said:
“I am immensely proud of the team for successfully delivering such a monumental and complex structure, marking the culmination of a long and collaborative design team effort.”
Route-wide, HS2 is building more than 500 bridging structures – including over 50 major viaducts. These will stretch for a combined total of 15 kilometres (9 miles) across valleys, rivers, roads and flood plains.
As construction continues at pace between the West Midlands and London, HS2 now supports more than 31,000 jobs. When complete, HS2 services will run between London and the West Midlands on a dedicated high-speed line before reaching destinations further north via the existing West Coast Main Line.
Britain’s new high-speed railway will provide significantly more efficient and faster journeys, while crucially freeing up space on the most congested part of the West Coast Main Line, allowing more local and freight trains to operate.
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