THE BRIDGE that will carry the HS2 line underneath the Kenilworth Road in Balsall Common has been completed, and will now move onto the next phase.
The 185-meter-long, 19.5-meter-wide, and 13.9-meter-high structure was built over an 18-month period by a team of 50 on-site workers.
The team celebrated the final installation of 12 parapets, which will serve as safety barriers when traffic begins to pass over the bridge.
It was constructed using 7,200 cubic meters of concrete and 1,800 tonnes of steel.
The next phase of the project will focus on building the embankments and landscaping the surrounding area as part of the realignment of the A452.
The construction team plans to reuse 80,000 cubic meters of material excavated from a nearby HS2 cutting in Coventry.
This material will be used to backfill around the structure, ensuring it is securely enclosed before the road is moved over the new bridge in early 2025.
The project was delivered by HS2’s construction partner for the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), which is responsible for constructing 90 kilometers of the HS2 route from Long Itchington in Warwickshire to the center of Birmingham and onto Staffordshire.
Jack King, HS2 project manager, said: “Completion of the A452 Kenilworth Road overbridge signifies a proud moment for everyone working on the project.
“As we celebrate the installation of the final parapets this week, I’d like to thank our civils contractor, designers, and everyone from our wider supply chain, who are safely and successfully delivering this huge feat of engineering.”
Shamus Banaghan, senior project manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI, added: “Standing almost 14 meters high and 185 meters in length, the scale of this achievement is clear to see.
“The recent installation of the final parapets on the roof deck is a special moment for the entire BBV delivery team and our key supply chain partners, who’ve worked tirelessly over the past 18 months to reach this point.”
This bridge is one of over 500 bridging structures being built across the HS2 route, including more than 50 major viaducts that will stretch a combined 15 kilometers across valleys, rivers, roads, and flood plains.
As construction progresses between the West Midlands and London, HS2 now supports more than 31,000 jobs.
