{"id":427956,"date":"2026-05-14T20:50:05","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T10:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/railuk.com\/?p=193399"},"modified":"2026-05-14T20:50:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T10:50:05","slug":"hs2-celebrates-completion-of-tallest-bridge-ahead-of-complex-launch-operation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=427956","title":{"rendered":"HS2 celebrates completion of tallest bridge ahead of complex launch operation"},"content":{"rendered":"

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HS2 engineers have finished building Curzon 2 – the tallest bridge on the new high-speed network \u2013 and final checks are underway ahead of its launch over the Cross City railway line, just outside Birmingham city centre.<\/p>\n

The engineering feat marks another huge milestone for the high-speed rail project and shows the significant progress being made on the 140-mile railway between central London and the West Midlands.<\/p>\n

The intricately designed structure is part of the Curzon approaches, a network of five viaducts that form the final mile of the journey towards HS2\u2019s Curzon Street Station.<\/p>\n

The bridge\u2019s striking 24-metre-high truss is composed of 670 individual steel sections that were welded to form the triangular-shaped units. It is built using weathering steel, which will naturally darken in colour over time.<\/p>\n

The 4,200-tonne bridge will be moved over three launch phases and is expected to reach its final position on Friday, 5th June.  When complete, the structure will rest over an existing Victorian railway viaduct, which itself stands 17-metres high.<\/p>\n

Once locked in place, the tip of the bridge\u2019s arched truss will reach over 40-metres high \u2013 the equivalent of a 10-storey building – creating a stunning new addition to the Birmingham skyline.<\/p>\n

Greg Sugden, HS2\u2019s head of delivery for the Curzon approaches, said:<\/p>\n

\u201cCurzon 2 is designed to reflect Birmingham\u2019s proud industrial heritage, and it will soon become a recognisable landmark on the cityscape \u2013 just like the Rotunda and the BT Tower.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m immensely proud of the civil engineers, welders and apprentices that have each played a part in its construction and we stand ready for the final challenge \u2013 launching the bridge over the adjacent railway line.\u201d<\/p>\n

A team of 250 engineers, working for HS2\u2019s construction partner Balfour Beatty VINCI, have spent three years working on the super-structure.<\/p>\n

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In 2023, the team installed 32 permanent piles, each around 30 metres deep, to strengthen the ground, ahead of construction works starting. In 2024, the bridge\u2019s 150-metre-long deck was built on top of the seven piers of the adjacent Curzon 1 viaduct, with over 500 individual parts lifted by crane. Once in place, the team began the enormous task of assembling the truss using 4,200 tonnes of steel.<\/p>\n

The heavily constrained construction site, sandwiched between the River Rea and the existing rail network, added to the complexity of the build. Cranes weighing up to 650-tonnes were used to lift the steel segments, ready for the team of welders who worked at height, day and night, inside fabricated boxes to shield the welding works from high winds and adverse weather conditions. <\/p>\n

Now complete, the entire deck and truss structure will be slid 180 metres \u2013 as part of a three-phase operation – using a jacking system. Once in place, it will rest upon four concrete piers \u2013 two either side of the Birmingham \u2013 Lichfield railway line.<\/p>\n

Onder Akin, senior project manager for Balfour Beatty VINCI, who has led the complex civil engineering programme, said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis has been an incredible challenge and I\u2019m extremely proud of the team who worked around the clock, in all weather conditions, to complete this magnificent structure.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are now preparing for the final stages, when the 4,200-tonne steel truss will be moved into position using high-precision hydraulic strand jacks. The structure will slide carefully into place over temporary bearings in a controlled operation.\u201d<\/p>\n

HS2 and BBV have worked closely with Network Rail and West Midlands Trains to plan for the bridge launch, ensuring disruption is kept to a minimum for rail users.<\/p>\n

In the first stage of the operation, Curzon 2 will be pushed forward 50 metres to the boundary of the railway line. These works will take place at night to avoid any impact on passenger services.<\/p>\n

The second stage will require a short closure of the Cross City line, between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley, as the viaduct is pushed over twin railway tracks \u2013 a distance of 93 metres. The closure will be in place from Friday 29th May \u2013 Sunday 31st May 2026.<\/p>\n

The final stage of the operation \u2013 a 37-metre push \u2013 will ensure the structure is docked and securely locked into position on all four piers.<\/p>\n

Significant progress is being made on the five connected viaducts that form the Curzon approaches \u2013 marking out the route of the railway towards the new terminus station at Curzon Street.<\/p>\n