A 900TONNE bridge took just 45minutes to be lowered into place as construction for a new road layout for Solihull’s HS2 Interchange station took place.
The 45-metre structure was installed over the A446 in Solihull and will form part of the area’s remodelled road network.
The bridge will form part of the major remodelling of the local road network to improve the circulation of traffic around the new high speed railway, while integrating the existing network with the new Interchange Station.
Sections of the A452 Chester Road and A446 Stonebridge Road were closed over the weekend of October 23 to 26 while the work was carried out.
Traditional construction methods would have required several weeks of lane closures on both carriageways, followed by additional weekend and overnight closures.
But this latest engineering innovation saw a 128-wheel hydraulic platform taking just 45 minutes to move the bridge span 150 metres, where it was lowered onto the shells to complete the overall bridge structure.
The bridge move was led by engineering contractor Expanded and HS2 enabling works contractor, Laing O’Rourke and J. Murphy and Sons Joint Venture (LMJV).
Also supporting the hi-tech process, a design joint venture involving WSP and Ramboll provided engineering and environmental services.
HS2’s delivery director, David Bennett, said: “As work ramps up at one of HS2’s largest construction sites, it was fantastic to see this next milestone achieved so quickly.
“It was finished 24 hours ahead of schedule and follows hot on the heels of the installation of the bridge over the M42 in August, which was also completed early. We’re pleased to see innovations like this on the project dramatically reducing environmental impacts and disruption for road users.
“With construction of the railway now well underway, 22,000 jobs being created and an estimated 400,000 supply chain contracts available, HS2 is playing a pivotal role in helping Britain’s economic recovery.”
