Latest news with #viaduct
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
1,300-tonne viaduct deck slid into place on HS2 route
A 1,300-tonne viaduct deck has been slid into place as part of HS2. The viaduct, which is 220 metres long and constructed from steel and concrete, was assembled alongside its final location before being carefully moved into position over three days, reaching its northern abutment on June 20. Sam Arrowsmith, project manager at HS2 Ltd, said: "It's great to see the viaduct deck in position and I'd like to thank everyone who's helped get us to where we are today. "The slide may only have taken three days, but it was the culmination of four years of work – developing the design, completing the groundworks and the piers and assembling the enormous steelwork." The viaduct will eventually carry high-speed trains over Banbury Lane and forms part of the new HS2 route between London and the West Midlands. It is designed to manage flood risk by maintaining natural water flow in the valley, and features weathering steel intended to blend into the rural landscape. The deck was slid into place using PTFE-coated pads to reduce friction between the structure and the temporary steel bearings on the five supporting concrete piers. Lower Thorpe is the last of five viaducts installed using this method by EKFB, the main contractor for the central section of HS2. EKFB is a consortium comprising Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall. With the steelwork now in place, the next phase will see the deck lowered 60 centimetres onto its permanent bearings, followed by construction of the concrete deck and parapets. Janice McKenna, technical director at EKFB, said: "The strategic design approach applied to these double composite structures has been a game-changer in how we're building these viaducts. "The double composite solution can be applied to multiple structures in different locations, and we have five across EKFB's 50-mile route that are all well into construction. "The philosophy was to design the viaducts with architectural input to 'blend' the structures into their respective landscapes and reduce the visual impact on the environment. "We also required a solution that offered specific delivery benefits too, from saving embedded carbon in the materials we use, to enhancing productivity on site and reducing safety risk." The double composite design uses steel beams with reinforced concrete layers above and below, reducing the carbon footprint by up to 59 per cent compared to traditional pre-stressed concrete beams. The viaduct will eventually support high-speed trains between London and the West Midlands, easing congestion and increasing capacity on the existing rail network.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
HS2 viaduct weighing 1,300 tonnes slides into place in Northants
A 1,300-tonne viaduct deck has been slid into place for the HS2 project after four years of 220m (722ft) steel and concrete deck has been installed near the Northamptonshire village of Thorpe said the "russet-coloured weathering steel" had been designed to match the "natural" tones of the surrounding countryside. The sliding operation, which took three days to complete, involved pads made from the same material used on non-stick frying pans. The positioning of the viaduct deck is the latest in a series of major engineering projects to be completed for the new fast London to Birmingham rail was assembled to one side of its final location and then slid into concrete pillars were constructed for the deck to sit on, with temporary steel bearings placed on made from the non-stick compound PTFE were used to reduce friction between the deck and the next part of the operation will involve lowering the deck by 60cm (24in) onto the permanent bearings The deck is one of the 15 major viaducts being produced by HS2's main contractor, EKFB, and is the last of five being built using the sliding technique. HS2 said it would "help manage flood risk by ensuring that rainwater can continue to run off into existing watercourses". HS2 Ltd's project manager, Sam Arrowsmith, said: "The slide may only have taken three days, but it was the culmination of four years of work – developing the design, completing the groundworks and the piers and assembling the enormous steelwork." EKFB's technical director, Janice McKenna, said: "The philosophy was to design the viaducts with architectural input to 'blend' the structures into their respective landscapes and reduce the visual impact on the environment."The government announced last week that the 2033 deadline for completion of the London to Birmingham railway would be missed, but did not provide a new date. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Chapel Milton's Victorian viaduct to undergo £7.5m upgrade
A landmark railway viaduct spanning a Derbyshire valley is set to undergo a 7.5m of the 160-year-old twin viaducts at Chapel Milton, near Chapel-en-le-Frith, will be improved by Network Rail between now and the Victorian structure allows two freight lines to transport about 25,000 tonnes of stone, cement and limestone a day across the Black Brook Valley from four Peak District Hunter, from Network Rail, said it required a "modern touch to make sure freight trains can pass over it safely and efficiently for generations to come". He added: "Each train takes about 76 wagons off the roads."The longevity of the viaduct is essential to the success of the economy and reducing the carbon footprint of the construction sector." Preparatory work has already begun ahead of the main upgrade project, which will include repairing brickwork, installing handrails and guardrails to improve safety for workers and strengthening the Great Rocks line will close between 29 August and 7 September while the track is removed and replaced by contractor first line of the Chapel Milton Viaduct was opened in 1867 for trains from London St Pancras to and from Manchester, with the second fork towards Sheffield operational from was built for passenger services, but is now solely used for are being invited to an information event between 16:00 and 19:00 BST on Wednesday at Chinley Chapel to find out more about the work and its impact on the community.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
M6 slip road at Birmingham to close for HS2 viaduct operation
The first section of a viaduct which will eventually carry the HS2 railway over the M6 is being moved into place this southbound exit slip road at junction 4 near Birmingham Airport will be closed between 05:00 BST on Saturday to 22:00 BST on Sunday, although HS2 said traffic on the main motorway carriageway would not be the 119m (390ft) structure is in place, work will begin on building the next section, which will be moved into place at a later Ltd's Senior project manager Liam Kenny said it was "a big moment" in the construction of the railway. A series of winches will slide the viaduct over the slip road using non-stick pads - made of a material similar to a household frying pan - at a speed of 6-8m (20-26ft) an hour."Once the first launch is complete, we'll move on to assembling the next section of the viaduct," Mr Kenny said."This will be attached to the back of the viaduct before the second phase launch is ready to commence, this time across the motorway."He said he expected the next section of the viaduct to be moved into place in the autumn. The viaduct - known as the East Deck, and which will carry two tracks to London - is one of two which are being constructed next to the complete, they will each be 320m (1,050ft) Kenny said work on the West Deck, which would carry another two northbound tracks, would begin next year."I'd like to thank drivers for their patience during these vital works, and thank our staff involved in this incredibly complex operation," he added."Of course, if we get the work done quicker than expected, we'll open the slip road early." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- BBC News
Victorian viaduct upgrade aims to improve reliability of rail
The upgrade of a viaduct in Cornwall will improve the reliability of rail travel in the county, Network Rail has has been undertaken on Ponts Mill viaduct, near St Blazey, to strengthen the 152-year-old structure, which carries the Newquay branch line over the River a planned closure in March, the timber decks of the bridge were replaced with steel decks, the bridge girders were strengthened, and the rails, sleepers, and ballast were replaced, Network Rail upgrade is a part of a £56.8m rail project aimed at connecting Cornwall's coasts. In recent months, a 10mph (16km/h) speed limit has been in place, adding to journey times and meaning trains used extra fuel to slow down to travel over the viaduct and then accelerate after crossing. Network Rail said after extensive work to strengthen the structure, the speed restriction had been removed and trains were now travelling at 30mph (48km/h).It said although strengthening work was complete, work continued to paint the steel on the viaduct and repair the stone of the three columns and two Parkes, programme manager at Network Rail, said part of the "major project" involved work to "preserve an historic structure".He said: "We're grateful to the local community for their patience while we completed the work."
