HS2 engineers have lifted the last of six huge viaduct spans that will carry high speed trains over the M42 in the West Midlands, during a weekend closure of the motorway
The M42 viaduct operation was completed early on Monday morning, with the motorway reopening at around 4am as planned.
HS2’s West Midlands construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI, led operations at both sites, building on progress over four weekends this summer.
Oliver Shore, Project Director for Balfour Beatty VINCI, explained: “The twin box and Water Orton Viaducts are three major structures that cross the busy M42 motorway. In just four weekends, we’ve completed the bridging works on each, closing the gap over the north and southbound carriageways.”
300m viaduct will help trains travel above the M42
To take full advantage of the closure, a separate team – three miles to the south – spent the weekend lifting the last beams that will support another major HS2 bridge known as the ‘twin box’.
The 300-metre-long structure near the NEC is formed of two boxes that will support the railway as it passes over the carriageways. This approach has been chosen because of the angle at which the railway must cross the motorway.
The construction programme was meticulously planned over four weekends, spaced across the summer months, with engineers working on all three structures at the same time to reduce closures.
The final stages of construction can now commence
Engineers can now proceed to the final stages of construction – installing the remaining parapets along the sides of the Water Orton viaducts, and the final concrete pours on the twin box ready for railway tracks to be laid.
Agnes Usciak, HS2’s senior project manager, said: “I’d like to thank motorists and local residents for their patience during this huge programme of work – our biggest yet over the motorway network.
“Splitting a huge construction programme into four separate weekends requires meticulous planning, and our engineers executed the entire operation with pin-point precision, ensuring the motorway reopened on time, every time.
“Structural completion of the Water Orton viaducts and the twin box means the end is in sight for our bumper programme of motorway works this year.”
What’s next for the M42 bridge project?
In the coming days, Balfour Beatty VINCI’s engineers will extend Water Orton 2 by a further 40 metres, closing the final gap above Gilson Road.
The M42 will close again from 9pm on Friday, 23 October to 5am on Monday, 26th October, to install the viaduct’s parapets on the sections directly above the motorway.
Progress is also being made on other parts of the project with the platforms now in place at Old Oak Common, the first ‘green tunnel’ complete and the Curzon 2 viaduct on the approach to Curzon Street now in place.
