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HS2 has begun work on the UK’s longest railway bridge, with contractors sinking the first of almost 300 piles that will form the foundations for the Colne Valley Viaduct.
The viaduct, which will carry the new high-speed rail line for 3.4km on the north-west outskirts of London, will be almost a kilometre longer than the Forth Rail Bridge.
The Grimshaw-designed viaduct includes a series of spans, some up to 80m long, carrying the railway around 10m above the surface of lakes, river Colne and Grand Union Canal.
The structure will be supported by 56 piers, with the widest spans reserved for where the viaduct crosses the lakes and narrower spans for the approaches. The design was chosen to enable views across the landscape, minimise the viaduct’s footprint on the lakes and help complement the natural surroundings.
HS2 contractors begin work on UK’s longest rail viaduct
1/4 HS2 Colne Valley viaduct
2/4 HS2 Colne Valley viaduct
3/4 HS2 Colne Valley viaduct
4/4 HS2 Colne Valley viaduct
HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Align JV – made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick – has begun work on the UK’s longest rail viaduct.
The JV has begun boring work for almost 300 piles that will form the foundations for the Colne Valley Viaduct.
Architecturally designed by Grimshaw Architects, the 3.4km will become the UK’s longest rail viaduct; almost 1km longer than the Forth Rail Bridge.
The viaduct itself will carry the railway around 10m above the surface of the River Colne, Grand Union Canal and nearby lakes.
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