HS2, the UK's High Speed 2 project developer, has agreed to work together with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to provide enabling works for Metro Eastside extension.
The organisations will work to deliver the utility diversions which are required to enable the planned Birmingham Eastside extension which will serve the new Curzon Street Station on its proposed route to Digbeth.
The new HS2 station in Birmingham is developed to allow future improvements to the public space to ensure inclusive, seamless transport connections for local people.
Being developed between Bull Street and Digbeth, the West Midlands Metro Eastside extension project will help to better connect HS2 to Birmingham and the Black Country through the tram network.
Both HS2 and WMCA have also developed plans to safeguard the utility diversions which are required around the new HS2 Curzon Street station to future-proof the area for the tram extension.
HS2’s enabling works contractor LMJV has been appointed to carry out the utility diversions work over the coming year form part of the preparation work for the station.
LMJV is a joint venture between Laing O’Rourke and J. Murphy & Sons.
The works will include the provision of foundations for the new route to serve the HS2 station and connections with New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill railway stations.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: “This agreement with HS2 shows that we are preparing the ground to ensure we are ready to begin construction of our Eastside Metro extension in the New Year.
“This extension, which will run through Digbeth and the new HS2 Curzon Street Station, is not only part of our wider transport plan for the region, but it will also help create and protect jobs at a challenging time for our economy.
“The benefits to people both short and long-term will be immense, and it is critical we now press on with the construction.”
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Rendering of the new HS2 Curzon Street Station in the UK. (Credit: High Speed Two Ltd.)
