[VIDEO] HS2 Grand Union bridge slid into place

The 130-metre-long bridge has been slid into place and the closed section of the canal re-opened to the public a full week ahead of schedule

The launch of the HS2 Grand Union bridge took place on 4 March, shifting a bridge weighing 1,620-tonnes over a country road, canal, and towpath.

The slide took just two days, and the 1.5-mile section of the canal that needed to be closed was re-opened well ahead of schedule.

The ‘skid shoe’ method was used

Skid-resistant pads were placed under the structure’s path, and two hydraulic jacks were used to push the bridge into place, ensuring minimal friction during the slide.

A team of 40 worked on the project, installing 34 piles up to 30 metres deep, and creating two concrete piers. Two abutments and 37 precast planks were also put in place before the slide to form the base of the bridge deck.

Harry Toase, Balfour Beatty VINCI’s civil engineering lead for the project said: “The team has put in a huge amount of work to prepare for the bridge installation and shown meticulous attention to detail throughout to protect the canal and nearby Grade II listed bridge.

“I’m delighted we’ve been able to complete the works one week ahead of schedule and thank the local community for their patience.”

Vicki Lee, senior project manager at HS2 Ltd said: “Thanks to the hard work of our engineers and site-based teams, we’ve made good progress in this area over the last 12 months, with completion of the Long Itchington Wood Tunnel and the successful Longhole viaduct slide operation.

“There’s still a vast amount of work to do as we turn our attention to the embankments and cuttings that will link these sections of the railway ahead of track and power being installed.”

A major step completed for HS2 Curzon Street station

Earlier this month, it was announced that Curzon Street station had completed the installation of 2,011 piles, the concrete columns that will support the station’s foundations, each one between six and 24 metres deep in the ground.

The station in its entirety will span more than 300m between Moor Street station and Millennium Point.

HS2 Ltd’s senior project manager, Alistair Morgan said: “Once complete, Curzon Street will be a new landmark for Birmingham – and provide a fitting city centre terminus for a railway that will improve journeys and free up space on the existing West Coast Main Line. These new images also show how it will be integrated into the rest of the city – with new green spaces, better accessibility and onward public transport links.

“It’s great to see how much progress has been made on the foundation works and I’d like to thank everyone who’s been working so hard to get the job done. But we’ve still got a lot of work to do before the first passengers arrive, and I look forward to seeing more significant progress in the year ahead.”

The post [VIDEO] HS2 Grand Union bridge slid into place appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.