HS2'S TEMPORARY BRIDGE TAKES 10,000 VEHICLES OFF LOCAL ROADS

HS2 recently confirmed that a temporary access bridge - put in place during the construction of the 3.4km Colne Valley Viaduct – has already taken more than 10,000 vehicle journeys off local roads in its first year of operation.

Construction of the HS2 project, which is designed to improve rail links between London, Birmingham and North, help level up the economy and provide a low-carbon alternative to car and air travel, is ramping up across the UK with almost 30,000 jobs now supported by the project.

As well as taking vehicles off local roads, the 800m long temporary bridge, completed in February 2022, is also used to get equipment out to where the viaducts piers are being built in the lake.

Lorries making deliveries to site all arrive from the M25 and follow a 6km internal access route via HS2’s South Portal construction site, and the temporary bridge, instead of using local roads - significantly reducing the impact on the local community during construction.

Construction of the Colne Valley Viaduct is now well underway, with all the foundation pilling for the 56 piers and 2 abutments now complete. Almost 200, out of a thousand deck segments, have now been installed, with each one weighing up to 140 tonnes. To allow for the gentle curve of the viaduct as it crosses the valley, each segment is unique.