The central cut-and-cover tunnel running to the west of Wendover town has been completed
Work will now focus on the portals, internal works, and backfilling of the HS2 Wendover Tunnel.
The structure, located on the edge of the town in Buckinghamshire, spans 1.4km and will also require a realignment of Ellesborough Road.
The HS2 Wendover Tunnel is another ‘green tunnel’
Using the cut-and-cover technique, the tunnel is designed to reduce noise for local residents and disruption to green spaces by excavating an area, constructing the tunnel in the ground, and then re-covering it.
There are four other green tunnels on the HS2 line, such as the Copthall tunnel which was completed in summer.
The Wendover tunnel is built in an ‘M’ shape, using 2740 precast concrete segments and split into separate halves for northbound and southbound trains. The central section was built in two sections, meaning preparatory, construction, and backfilling works could happen at different points at the same time. The two segments met this week and were fully connected on Monday (5 October).
HS2 Ltd’s project manager, Umesh Gorasia, said: “It’s great to see the two halves of the tunnel linked up for the first time. Once complete, the green tunnel will dramatically reduce disruption from passing trains and blend the railway into the countryside.
“There’s still some way to go, but we’re making good progress and I’d like to thank the team for all their hard work.”
Viaducts and tunnels are making great progress on the line
Earlier this month, the HS2 Westbury Viaduct was completed, spanning 320 metres near Brackley and ready to carry HS2 trains across the River Great Ouse floodplain.
The viaduct was built using a ‘double composite’ approach, using lower-carbon concrete and steel to create a box beam with concrete above and below steel beams.
The steel beams were assembled on the north abutment before being slid into place between March and October 2024, using special non-stick coated pads. The concrete was then cast using a travelling formwork to make 42-metre-ling sections. The formwork would be pulled forward after a section is cast to allow the next one to be cast.
HS2’s senior project manager, Paul Cooper said: “It’s been amazing to watch Westbury viaduct come together over the last few years and I’d like to thank everyone involved in getting this incredible structure over the finishing line.
“This section of the railway is now really starting to come together, and with the viaduct complete, our focus will turn to completing the earthworks and other nearby structures.”
