Balfour Beatty Vinci has achieved a construction milestone with the completion of the four large piers of the Curzon 2 bridge in Northumberland, England, on behalf of High Speed 2 (HS2).
Balfour Beatty VINCI is a joint venture (JV) between Balfour Beatty and VINCI.
The latest development is a step in the sequence of viaducts designed to carry high-speed trains into and out of Birmingham.
The bridge, also known as ‘Bellingham Bridge’, is said to be the tallest structure in the connected viaducts built through Birmingham’s industrial area.
The construction of these four piers began in late 2023, with each now reaching a height of 16m.
Balfour Beatty VINCI senior project manager Onder Akin said: “The completion of the four 16m-high piers to support the bridge shows the great progress we’re making, and the team is now preparing for the operation next year, which we believe will be among the longest bridge launches of its type ever delivered in the UK.”
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By GlobalDataThe assembly of the 150m-long deck and the curved truss made of weathering steel has commenced, with completion expected by early next year.
The deck is being assembled atop the seven piers of the adjacent Curzon 1 viaduct, involving around 130 parts lifted via crane.
The entire structure, weighing more than 4,000 tonnes (t), will be moved 190m onto the Curzon 2 piers using a jacking system in a 12-day operation scheduled for mid-2025.
HS2 senior project manager David King said: “With the completion of these four huge viaduct piers, HS2’s gateway into Birmingham has taken another leap forward.
“Passengers travelling on the new high-speed trains will experience a fantastic entrance to the city as they emerge from Bromford Tunnel at Washwood Heath and rise up onto this striking stretch of viaducts on the approach to the new state-of-the-art Curzon Street Station.”
Balfour Beatty VINCI’s team of more than 250 members, including apprentices and specialists, is constructing the Curzon approach viaducts.
The design is a collaborative effort between Mott MacDonald, Systra, and Weston Williamson + Partners, with light installation by Liz West.
Upon completion, the HS2 project will enhance connectivity between UK capital London and the West Midlands, extending north on existing lines.
Earlier this year, the JV placed the first major viaduct section over the motorway network in North Warwickshire.
