‘Giant’ piers completed on HS2’s highest Curzon approach bridge in Birmingham

The completion of the Curzon 2 viaduct piers – nicknamed Bellingham Bridge after England footballer Jude Bellingham – marks a milestone in the construction of the chain of structures that will carry high-speed trains to and from Birmingham.

Being built by HS2 main contractor Balfour Beatty Vinci JV (BBV), Curzon 2 is the tallest structure on the 1.6km stretch of viaducts being built through Birmingham’s industrial centre. It takes the form of a superstructure that will carry high-speed trains over the existing Victorian brick railway viaduct, featuring a 25m high curved truss with a light installation designed to “create a new icon on the city’s skyline”.

The bridge will be a key element of the ‘gateway’ to Birmingham. The high-speed trains will exit from the western portal of the 5.6km Bromford Tunnel at Washwood Heath and on a stretch of five connected viaducts – Duddeston Junction, Curzon 1, Curzon 2, Lawley Middleway and Curzon 3, which link to platforms on Curzon Street. Station.

Work began on Curzon 2’s four piers last fall, with each structure now 16m tall. Assembly of the 150m long deck and curved weather steel structure has begun and is scheduled for completion next spring. These are assembled on top of the seven piers of the adjacent Curzon 1 viaduct, with around 130 individual parts lifted by crane.

Once the deck is complete, the deck and truss structure, weighing over 4,000 tonnes, will then be slid 190m onto the Curzon 2 piers using a jack system. This operation is scheduled to take place over 12 days next summer.

A truss bridge design was selected for lightness and strength; trusses are composed of connected elements that form triangular units and are constructed using a relatively small amount of material. A truss structure can be assembled offline and then launched from one end and in one piece over the existing railway viaduct below. The rebar was designed to “wrap” the viaduct, extending the underside of the steel to wrap under the viaduct deck and forming a visual link with the steel girders of the adjacent structures.

View of the completed bridge

The Curzon approach viaducts are being built by West Midlands HS2 contractor BBV with a team of over 250 people including engineering apprentices, steel welders, steel fitters and carpenters.

The design for the Curzon Street approach section was developed by a joint project of Mott MacDonald and Systra and architects Weston Williamson + Partners, all working for Balfour Beatty Vinci.

HS2 Ltd Senior Project Manager David King said: “With the completion of these four huge viaduct piers, HS2’s gateway to Birmingham has taken another leap forward.

“Passengers traveling on the new high-speed trains will experience a fantastic entry into the city as they exit the Bromford Tunnel at Washwood Heath and ascend this stunning stretch of viaducts near the new state-of-the-art Curzon. Street station.”

Balfour Beatty Vinci Senior Project Manager Onder Akin said: “This iconic bridge is part of a complex series of linked viaducts that will run through Birmingham’s industrial heartland. I am proud of the way the BBV team responded to the challenge of building these structures in such a congested urban space, working around existing rail lines and utilities.

“The completion of the four 16m high piers to support the bridge shows the great progress we are making and the team is now preparing for next year’s operation, which we believe will be among the longest bridge launches of its type ever delivered in the UK United.”

Mott MacDonald Systra Design Joint Venture Project Director Nicholas Robertshaw said: “It is clear to see from the height of the completed piers that the Curzon 2 Viaduct will become an iconic part of Birmingham’s skyline, referencing the city’s industrial heritage.

“The work to date is testament to the collaborative efforts of all parties to design this vital piece of transport infrastructure in a way that benefits passengers and provides a lasting legacy for the wider Birmingham community.”

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