Balfour Beatty Vinci has completed the initial phase of construction for a bridge that will carry England’s High Speed Two (HS2) high-speed railway line over the M42 motorway.
Once completed, the M42 motorway box structure will span 300m, allowing the high-speed line to cross a 130m section of the M42 between junctions 6 and 7/7a, near Birmingham Business Park and the city’s National Exhibition Centre.
The structure will see the use of modular construction methods that will limit the need for extended motorway closures, thus reducing the impact on M42 users.
This technique involves assembling large premanufactured blocks off-site, which are then transported and assembled beside the motorway.
The process will use 1,500 hollow blocks, each weighing an average of 14 tonnes, stacked and filled with concrete to form the structure’s walls.
Additionally, 295 beams will be installed to span the walls, followed by the bridge deck and parapets, with completion expected by early 2027.
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By GlobalDataHS2 senior project manager Doug Barnett said: “I would like to thank motorists for their patience and our colleagues at National Highways for their support during these recent temporary closures of the M42. I also commend our site team who worked through the night to complete this essential work, enabling the motorway to reopen five hours earlier than planned.”
“Following this first phase of work, we can now start to build the structure in place from the ground up. We’ve prioritised a modular, self-supporting construction method as this avoids the need for any long-term motorway closures and reduces the overall construction timeframe – keeping disruption to a minimum.”
During the previous two weekend closures, Balfour Beatty VINCI cleared the site by removing old concrete foundations, installing underground ducting, and ensuring a safe work environment on the M42’s central reservation.
Balfour Beatty VINCI, in partnership with National Highways, will maintain three open lanes on the M42 with a 50mph speed limit to ensure minimal disruption during the coming build.
At the peak of construction, a team of 150 workers will contribute to this complex project.
The new HS2 railway is set to enhance journey efficiency and speed while relieving congestion on the region’s West Coast Main Line, allowing for increased local and freight train services.
Last month, HS2’s 700m long Burton Green Tunnel in Warwickshire, UK reached the midway milestone.
