Two-Year Infrastructure Project Completes New Bridge, Roundabouts, and Road Realignment Near Aylesbury
A major road connecting Aylesbury and Bicester was reopened on Monday after a weekend closure to reroute traffic via a new bridge over the HS2 line near Waddesdon.
The new A41 bridge, located slightly north of the original road, spans 80 meters and took two years to construct. The bridge crosses a cutting that will eventually carry HS2 rail services between London and the West Midlands. It is one of 500 bridging structures within the HS2 project, which include footbridges, drainage culverts, wildlife “green bridges,” and larger constructions like the record-breaking Colne Valley Viaduct, the UK’s longest viaduct.
Traffic over the newly opened A41 bridge near Waddesdon began in September 2024, improving safety with new roundabouts on both sides of the bridge. These roundabouts will help traffic from Blackgrove Road and Waddesdon Hill merge more smoothly onto the A41. Additionally, a footpath south of Waddesdon has been extended alongside the existing road.
The bridge was constructed using a ‘top-down’ method, with the deck built at ground level and supported by deep piles. Once the piles were in place, the earth beneath was excavated to create the cutting. The bridge’s three spans are formed by 21 U-shaped precast concrete beams, with the deck and wingwalls cast in place. The entire realignment covers 2.6 km, including utility diversions.
Most of the construction was completed without significant disruption to traffic, though a few weekend closures were necessary for utility works and road integration. Two more weekend closures are expected to finish the kerbing, road surfacing, and lining.
Vlad Kolev, Project Manager at HS2 Ltd, commented, “Once complete, HS2 will transform travel between London and the West Midlands, while also freeing up capacity for freight and local rail services. Keeping communities connected during construction is crucial, and projects like the A41 overbridge play a key role. I’d like to thank our team and supply chain for their hard work and the local community for their patience during road closures.”
The bridge and road realignment were delivered by HS2’s main contractor, EKFB, a consortium of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction, and BAM Nuttall. Traffic began using the new road alignment from 5:30 AM on Monday after the new surface was laid over the weekend. The temporary roundabout at the entrance to HS2’s A41 site compound will be removed once construction is fully completed.
