Balfour Beatty VINCI has successfully completed the installation of the second HS2 viaduct over the M6 near Chelmsley Wood, marking the conclusion of a major programme of engineering works above one of the country’s busiest motorways.
The final section of the 4,750-tonne structure was moved into position above the north and southbound carriageways at junction 4/4a using specialist hydraulic jacks, while traffic continued to flow below, helping to minimise disruption to motorists.
Engineers working for Balfour Beatty VINCI completed the final launch of the west deck in just nine hours, moving the steel structure forward 76 metres into its final position. The milestone means both 320-metre-long M6 South viaducts are now structurally complete, with the neighbouring east deck having been completed in 2025.
The two parallel structures, positioned just 100 millimetres apart, have been constructed using weathering steel and are supported by a series of concrete piers. The west deck was launched in four incremental stages, with additional sections of steel added to the rear of the structure before the deck was propelled forward using strand jacks.
The east deck will carry high-speed trains towards Old Oak Common and Euston, while the newly completed west deck will carry trains towards Birmingham Curzon Street and destinations further north.
Russell Luckhurst, Balfour Beatty VINCI engineer leading the delivery of the works, said: “Two neighbouring viaducts that run parallel to each other now span the busy M6 motorway near Chelmsley Wood, after the west deck was safely and successfully moved into its final position over the weekend.
“It’s a huge moment for Balfour Beatty VINCI and HS2, concluding a major programme of work above the M6, in extremely challenging weather conditions.”
Ian Clarke, Senior Project Manager at HS2 Ltd said: “These viaducts straddle some of the busiest sections of motorway in the country, which is why we adopt innovative techniques that allow construction to continue without closing the carriageway whenever we can.
“We have made great progress this year and I thank motorists and local communities for their patience.”
The M6 remained open to traffic throughout the operation, while the M42-M6 link road was temporarily closed to provide a safety exclusion zone. The link road reopened at 9pm on Saturday 24 October, 25 hours ahead of schedule.
ENDS
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Notes to editors:
· Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group delivering the complex, critical infrastructure that keeps economies moving and communities connected.
· 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.
· 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: CGI of M6 South viaduct
