First HS2 viaduct completes deck beam installation

The 163m long Highfurlong Brook Viaduct, near the village of Aston le Walls, is one of more than 50 major viaducts being built. Consisting of seven spans, the viaduct crosses the brook at a height of around 9m. Each span is made up of four beams weighing up to 56 tonnes, which were lifted into position over two months to form the backbone of the structure.

The beams up to 25m long will support the track and electrical systems to be installed next year. The viaduct is one of 15 being built by HS2‘s main works contractor EKFB – a group made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and Bam Nuttall.

Sean Lang, EKFB’s project director, said: “We’re making considerable progress with our structures and earthworks and to see the beams lifted into position at Highfurlong Brook Viaduct is testament to the on-going collaborative effort of the joint venture and its supply chain partners.

“Utilising our network of internal access roads and on-site concrete batching plant, we’re minimising our impact on the local communities that live close to our works.”

Night-time concrete poured for Curzon 3 Viaduct decks

The last few weeks has also seen significant progress at HS2‘s other major viaducts, with the first concrete poured for the approach viaducts at Birmingham Curzon Street station and the first beams installed at Thame Valley near Aylesbury.

In total, HS2 is building more than 500 bridging structures – ranging from small road bridges to massive viaducts like record-breaking Colne Valley Viaduct which will become the longest in the UK and recently passed the half-way point.