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HS2 completes colossal bridge beam lift

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HS2’s Interchange Station in Solihull has reached a new milestone after Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) lifted 15 colossal bridge beams into position.

Credit: HS2 Ltd.

The beams for the foundation of the road bridge that will take vehicles over the high-speed railway and onto the station car parks.

A team of 20 hoisted the concrete beams, which collectively weighed 565 tonnes, into place onto existing abutments and piers using a 650-tonne crane.

Once completed, the two-lane bridge will stretch 63.5 metres which is due to finish early 2025.

The next phase of construction will see a concrete deck placed on top of the beams, before parapet walls are installed and surfacing work can take place.

The new interchange station aims to be the catalyst for growth in Solihull.

Led by the Urban Growth Company, the plans will support 30,000 jobs, up to 3,000 new homes and 70,000 square metres of commercial space, and provide easy access to nearby destinations such as Birmingham Airport.

The contract to build Interchange Station was awarded to Laing O’Rourke last year, with work currently underway on design. 

HS2’s main works civil contractor for the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), is currently preparing the site where the new station will be built and carrying out preliminary civil engineering work – ready for full construction to start in early 2026.

HS2 is building more than 500 bridging structures route wide, which range from small footbridges to major viaducts, such as the West Link and East Link Viaducts.

Maddy Belgrove, site sub agent for Balfour Beatty VINCI, said: “HS2’s Interchange Station is really beginning to take shape, now we’ve safely and successfully lifted the 15 bridge beams into place. 

“This five-day operation required a huge amount of planning and precision, and I’m really proud of the way the team has responded to this challenge, especially during the recent bad weather.”

Ailsa Waygood, HS2 Ltd’s project client for Interchange Station, said: “We’re very proud to mark this engineering milestone and I’d like to thank everyone involved for delivering the operation safely and precisely during particularly challenging weather conditions.

“As we approach a new phase of construction, we are excited to bring our plans for Interchange Station to life. Interchange will be transformational for the Midlands, providing new jobs and supply chain opportunities, and becoming one of the best-connected transport hubs in the UK.”

Yesterday, transport secretary Louise Haigh indicated HS2 will run to Euston, despite the previous Conservative government reversing the project in order to save money.

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