Balfour Beatty VINCI has completed the structural works on three major viaducts on the southern approach to the new Interchange Station in Solihull, marking another significant milestone in the delivery of Britain's new high-speed railway.
The completion of River Blythe Viaduct, Marsh Farm Viaduct and Balsall Common Viaduct demonstrates continued progress on the West Midlands section of HS2 and showcases the engineering expertise of Balfour Beatty VINCI and its supply chain partners in delivering complex infrastructure across environmentally sensitive landscapes.
The final parapets are now being installed on the 495-metre River Blythe Viaduct, the largest of the three structures and the closest to Interchange Station. Located within the Solihull metropolitan borough, the viaducts will carry high-speed trains towards one of HS2's key transport hubs.
Spanning wetlands, floodplains, watercourses and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the structures have been carefully designed and constructed to minimise environmental impacts while supporting local wildlife habitats. Both River Blythe Viaduct and Balsall Common Viaduct were designated as HS2 Key Design Elements, reflecting their prominence within the local landscape and the importance of community input in their design.
Matthew Parkes, Construction Manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI, said: "The structural completion of these three viaducts represents another important milestone for Balfour Beatty VINCI and our supply chain partners as we continue to deliver critical infrastructure for HS2."
"Each structure has presented its own engineering challenges, requiring innovative construction techniques and close collaboration to successfully build them across diverse landscapes and environmentally sensitive areas. This achievement is testament to the expertise and dedication of everyone involved in the project."
Doug Barnett, HS2 Ltd’s senior project manager said: “Our engineering teams are making fantastic progress on the Interchange Station approach, and it’s a significant achievement that all three viaducts in the Solihull borough are now structurally complete.
“The design and landscaping solutions were of upmost importance to local residents, and we worked extremely hard to get that right.”
River Blythe Viaduct crosses the River Blythe SSSI, its floodplain and Meriden Road near Hampton in Arden. The 495-metre structure features 19 piers with distinctive Y-shaped supports designed to reduce material use and blend more effectively into the surrounding landscape. The completed viaduct also incorporates measures to support local wildlife, including species such as bats, birds, fish, otters, water voles and great crested newts.
The 430-metre Balsall Common Viaduct crosses Station Road, Truggist Lane, Bayleys Brook, the Heart of England Way and the surrounding floodplain. Its polished parapets and distinctive woven design motif were selected following consultation with local communities and reflect the area's textile heritage.
Marsh Farm Viaduct, the smallest of the three structures at 145 metres in length, crosses Bayleys Brook and adjacent marshland. During construction, it has also served as a haul route, helping to reduce the number of construction vehicles on local roads.
With the structural works now complete, teams will continue with the installation of parapets, acoustic barriers and final finishing works across the three viaducts as construction progresses towards Interchange Station.
ENDS
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Notes to editors:
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Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group delivering the complex, critical infrastructure that keeps economies moving and communities connected.
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With around 26,000 employees, we finance, develop, build, maintain and operate essential infrastructure across the UK, US and Asia, combining deep engineering and construction expertise with long-term investment capability.
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For over one hundred years, we have delivered landmark projects around the world. Today, our teams are helping to deliver major programmes including Hinkley Point C, the UK’s first new nuclear power station in a generation; the Lyric Theatre in Hong Kong, a world-class cultural venue at the heart of the West Kowloon Cultural District; and the Knox Street Development in Dallas, Texas, a major mixed-use scheme helping to reshape one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.
Image: HS2's Solihull station
