High Speed 2’s first permanent structure has been installed along the route of the new railway to allow trains to pass over the M42, close to the site of a planned station at Birmingham Interchange.
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The motorway reopened on Sunday following an operation to install the 65m long, 2750t bridge structure, which was assembled off site before being driven into position along the M42 using a self propelled modular transporter.
“Constructing the bridge off site and using innovative engineering practices to install it over the motorway enabled us to carry out the work in just two days, keeping disruption to a minimum for road users,” said High Speed 2’s chief executive Mark Thurston.
The operation was carried out by specialist contractor Expanded Structures and enabling works contractor LMJV, comprising Laing O’Rourke and J. Murphy & Sons. Once manoeuvred into place, the bridge – built using 1130t of steel plate girders and 1610t of precast and in-situ concrete – was affixed to a composite concrete deck to complete the overall structure.
LMJV project director Simon Russell said: “This is British construction, design and engineering innovation at its finest.
“Major components of the bridge and its supports were built off site under safe, high quality conditions, then transported to site for assembly. Advanced digital capabilities allowed us to design all elements of the structure in a virtual world, before building it for real, and I am delighted that the work was completed safely and ahead of schedule.”
The installation marks the completion of the first of four bridges to be built close to the new Interchange station outside Birmingham. Later this year, a similar bridge will be installed over the A446. Steel beams have arrived on site, modular abutments have been completed and deck components are being assembled. Two more structures will follow in the area to carry a new roundabout over the high speed line and are due to be completed by the end of this year.
* High Speed 2 has also revealed the names of two tunnel boring machines this week which will be the first to launch on the project early next year when they begin excavation of the 16km twin bore Chiltern Tunnel.
Named Florence and Cecilia, the 2000t machines will be shipped in pieces from Germany to the UK and will be operated by HS2 main works contractor Align JV, comprising Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick.
(Photograph: High Speed 2)
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