The 163m long Highfurlong Brook Viaduct, near the village of Aston le Walls, is the first completed viaduct on the HS2 project
The first of 50 HS2 viaducts to be completed, the structure crosses Highfurlong Brook’s floodplain at a height of 9m and is intended to free up space on the most crowded part of the existing West Coast Mainline for more freight and local services.
Each span is made up of four beams weighing up to 56 tonnes and were lifted into position last year to form the backbone of the structure.
Offsite manufacturing was used to minimise local disruption
Each of the beams – which are up to 25m long – were manufactured off site before being delivered over night to reduce disruption for local road users. The deck – which will support the track and electrical systems – was poured in situ earlier this year, with the parapets along each side manufactured off site and installed over the last four months.
With the viaduct now structurally complete, the next phase of construction will include delivering the earthworks that support the railway at either end before a separate set of contractors comes in to install the rail systems, including track, signalling, power and communications systems.
One of five hundred bridging structures in the HS2 project
Highfurlong Brook was delivered over two years by HS2’s main works contractor EKFB – a group made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and Bam Nuttall. The design was done by EKFB’s design partner ASC working with architect Moxon.
Bill Price, HS2 Ltd’s project client said: “The completion of our first viaduct is a major moment for the HS2 project and I’d like to thank everyone in our integrated project team and supply chain partners who have worked so hard to get us where we are today.
“It’s great to see Highfurlong Brook finished and I look forward to seeing many more of our viaducts, bridges, stations and tunnels come together over the next few years.”
The viaduct is one of around 500 bridging structures on the HS2 project which range from small road bridges and drainage culverts to massive viaducts like the Colne Valley Viaduct, which will become the longest in the UK when its deck is completed.
The Highfurlong Brook Viaduct has “achieved many ‘firsts'”
Scott Corsar, EKFB’s project manager said: “We have achieved many ‘firsts’ with Highfurlong Viaduct, from the first viaduct to have its full deck installed to the first structurally complete viaduct on the HS2 programme following the recent installation of 136 parapets.
“This would not have been possible without the hard work, consistency and collaboration of everyone involved with the structure, from our designers down to our operatives out on site.”
HS2 between London and the West Midlands is expected to start operation between 2029 and 2033.
