The A41 overbridge, a critical component of the UK's High Speed Two (HS2) rail infrastructure project, has been completed and reopened, following two years of construction.
The new bridge, which represents a significant milestone with the road linking Aylesbury and Bicester, spans 80m over a cutting designed for the future HS2 rail line connecting London and the West Midlands in England.
This bridge is one of 500 structures designed to support the HS2 rail network, which includes a variety of culverts and viaducts.
Among them is the Colne Valley Viaduct, now the longest in the UK.
The A41 bridge's strategic placement enhances safety with the addition of new roundabouts facilitating smoother traffic flow from Blackgrove Road and Waddesdon Hill onto the A41.
A top-down construction method was employed for the bridge, involving the assembly of the deck at ground level on deep-driven piles before excavating the earth to create the cutting.
The bridge's structure comprises 21 U-shaped precast concrete beams, with the deck and wing walls cast on-site.
HS2 project manager Vlad Kolev said: “Once complete, HS2 will dramatically improve journeys between our two largest cities while freeing up space on the existing rail network for more freight and local services. But it’s also important that we keep communities connected while we deliver this transformative project.
“That’s why smaller structures like the A41 overbridge are so important and I’d like to thank everyone in our team and across the supply chain who worked so hard to get it built and open to the public.”
The entire road realignment project extends 2.6km and comprises seven sets of utility diversions.
Finishing touches, including road surfacing, kerbs, and line marking will be carried out during the coming weekends.
HS2's main works contractor, EKFB - a consortium of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction, and BAM Nuttall - was responsible for the construction of the bridge and road realignment.
The HS2 A41 site compound’s temporary roundabout will be dismantled once HS2 construction is finalised.
