Engineers of High Speed Two (HS2) have successfully installed the first segment of the new Saltley Viaduct over the Birmingham to Derby railway lines.
This achievement signals the start of the main build phase for the replacement bridge, which forms a key part of the wider high-speed rail expansion in the region.
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The original viaduct, spanning the B4114 and measuring 183m, was closed and demolished earlier this year, according to HS2.
The new structure is being erected to greater height, designed to allow HS2 trains to operate safely beneath.
Construction and installation work is being undertaken by Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), HS2’s principal civil engineering partner.
To lift the new span into position, engineers used self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) to move the assembled 55m steel section a distance of 125m onto the existing rail corridor.
The operation was coordinated with Network Rail during a planned rail closure, allowing passenger services to resume as scheduled on Tuesday, 1 September.
HS2 project manager for the works Nic Ryder said: “Our engineering team is making fantastic progress and everyone worked incredibly hard over the Bank Holiday weekend to ensure we were finished in time for the railway to reopen.”
With the first of four spans now installed, attention turns to assembling the 35m span that will cross the future HS2 line.
This next component is scheduled to be lowered into place by crane in October, according to the project timeline.
The two remaining spans, designed to traverse the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal, will be positioned later in the year.
The wider project also includes a new bridge over the River Rea, forming part of the realigned B4114 route.
The new viaduct, expected to open for vehicles and pedestrians by November 2027, will feature enhanced safety elements, including wider walkways fitted with LED panel lighting and additional space for cyclists and pedestrians.
HS2 stated that it has awarded more than £2.5m to Birmingham City Council to fund road safety improvements along the route, with spending required by December 2026.
HS2 and BBV coordinated with Birmingham City Council, Transport for the West Midlands, and National Express to facilitate diversion routes and ensure continued bus provision during the works.
The viaduct project is being delivered in phases to address the complexities involved in crossing multiple railways, the canal network and the future high-speed rail alignment.
