First Stage of HS2 Bridge Construction Over M42 Completed by Balfour Beatty VINCI
Balfour Beatty VINCI has successfully completed the first phase of work on a bridge that will carry the HS2 high-speed railway line over the M42 motorway.
During two weekend closures, engineers prepared the site by removing old concrete foundations, installing underground ducting, and establishing a safe work zone in the motorway’s central reservation.
The finished structure will span 300 meters, crossing a 130-meter section of the M42 near Birmingham Business Park and the NEC. Constructed using a modular method, the bridge will minimize disruption by assembling prefabricated blocks off-site and transporting them to the construction area.
The design includes 1,500 hollow blocks—each averaging 14 tonnes—stacked like bricks, filled with concrete to form walls, and connected by 295 beams. A bridge deck and parapets will complete the structure, scheduled for completion in early 2027.
Following temporary closures of the M42, construction is set to begin. With the collaboration of National Highways, the project will maintain three lanes of traffic on the motorway, operating under a 50mph speed limit.
Project leaders reflect on progress:
- Oliver Shore, Project Director at Balfour Beatty VINCI: “Now that essential preparations are complete, we’re ready to build this twin box structure, which will carry HS2 trains over the motorway with minimal disruption.”
- Doug Barnett, Senior Project Manager for HS2 Ltd, praised the modular construction approach for reducing closure time and thanked motorists for their patience.
At peak, 150 workers will support the operation. National Highways’ Network Planner, David Patmore, reiterated the priority of minimizing traffic disruption and acknowledged the efforts of local communities and road users during the initial phase.
The HS2 project promises faster, more efficient travel, while easing congestion on the West Coast Main Line, enabling more local and freight train services.
