HS2 moves giant viaduct section into place
HS2 has moved the first huge viaduct section into place over the motorway network in North Warwickshire.
It was a milestone for the project’s Delta Junction as HS2 reaches peak construction in the region.
Contractors working for HS2 used a specialist push-pull technique to move the 84-metre long, 300-tonne steel viaduct section into place over the westbound link road between the M6 and M42 near Coleshill.
This is the first of two moves to install the deck for HS2’s ‘East Link Viaduct’, which is part of the triangular Delta Junction.
The second operation in April will create the full 158-metre long composite deck over both westbound and eastbound motorway link roads. Further work, including in-situ concrete deck works and parapets installation will be undertaken to complete the structure.
It was delivered by specialist steelwork company Victor Buyck Steel Construction, working on behalf of HS2’s main works contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI.
The push-pull jacking system gave greater flexibility during the launch operation and it was the first time VBSC have used their specially designed technique in the UK.
The team completed the move ahead of schedule in a total of 11.5 hours during a weekend closure of the motorway link roads. Working with National Highways, the roads were reopened at 2.35am on Sunday.
Before the end of this year, a similar two-stage operation will move the identical ‘West Link Viaduct’ which runs parallel to the East Link Viaduct.
This section of the triangular Delta Junction enables high speed trains to travel between London, Interchange Station in Solihull and Birmingham Curzon Street Station.
Stephen Powell, head of delivery for area north at HS2 Ltd, said: “Building the East Link Viaduct in the Delta Junction is not only a key milestone for the HS2 project in the Midlands but is also critical to our earthworks mass haul strategy to keep construction traffic off the local roads.
“While we continue to construct HS2 in this area, it will provide a crossing route over the highway for construction vehicles to move excavated material from the Bromford Tunnel to other work sites in the Delta Junction, removing thousands of lorry movements from the local road network.”
