Balfour Beatty VINCI has marked a significant milestone in the development of HS2’s Interchange Station in Solihull, as a team of 20 successfully installed 15 massive bridge beams.
The beams were carefully lifted into place on existing abutments and piers using a 650-tonne crane. These concrete beams serve as the foundation for a road bridge that will transport vehicles over the high-speed railway to the station’s car parks. Collectively weighing 565 tonnes, the beams are a key component of the two-lane bridge, which will span 63.5 meters once completed. The next phase of construction, slated for early 2025, will involve the installation of a concrete deck, parapet walls, and surface finishing.
This bridge is the most substantial structure yet built as part of the new station’s development.
HS2’s Interchange Station is poised to be a catalyst for significant economic growth in Solihull. Spearheaded by the Urban Growth Company, the project is expected to generate 30,000 jobs, create up to 3,000 new homes, and offer 70,000 square meters of commercial space. The station will provide direct connections to the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham International Station, and Birmingham Airport via an Automated People Mover (APM), an elevated mass transit system.
Located on a 150-hectare site between the M42, A45, and A452, the station will serve passengers on the high-speed line between London and northern destinations, placing commuters just 38 minutes from the capital.
The contract to build the station was awarded to Laing O’Rourke last year, with work progressing on the design phase. Balfour Beatty VINCI is currently preparing the site and carrying out civil engineering work in anticipation of full construction starting in early 2026.
Maddy Belgrove, Site Sub Agent for Balfour Beatty VINCI, commented on the successful beam installation: “HS2’s Interchange Station is really beginning to take shape now that we’ve safely and successfully lifted the 15 bridge beams into place. This five-day operation required a huge amount of planning and precision, and I’m really proud of how the team tackled the challenge, especially given the recent bad weather.”
Ailsa Waygood, HS2 Ltd’s Project Client for Interchange Station, added: “We’re proud to mark this engineering milestone, and I’d like to thank everyone involved for delivering the operation safely and precisely under challenging weather conditions. As we move into the next phase of construction, we’re excited to bring our plans for Interchange Station to life. This station will be transformational for the Midlands, providing jobs, supply chain opportunities, and becoming one of the UK’s most connected transport hubs.”
The operation, managed by Balfour Beatty VINCI, was completed in just five days with the help of Shay Murtagh Precast, Sian Formwork Ltd, and Ainscough Crane Hire.
HS2 is building more than 500 bridging structures along the railway route, ranging from small footbridges to large viaducts like the West Link and East Link Viaducts in North Warwickshire, marking continued progress between the West Midlands and London. HS2 now supports over 31,000 jobs. Once complete, the new high-speed railway will offer faster, more reliable journeys, drive economic growth, and free up capacity on the West Coast Main Line for local trains.
