New Saltley Viaduct takes shape over the HS2 route

Engineers building HS2 have installed the first major span of the new Saltley Viaduct in east Birmingham, as work continues to replace the old road bridge so that high-speed trains can pass beneath it.

The first span, 55 metres long, was moved 125 metres into position by HS2's construction partner Balfour Beatty VINCI during a weekend closure of the railway.

Why the viaduct is being replaced

The Saltley Viaduct carries a road over the railway line between Birmingham and Derby, the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal and the River Rea. The original 183-metre structure was demolished because it did not leave enough height for the HS2 tracks that will run beneath it into the city.

A wider bridge

The new viaduct will be 4.5 metres wider than the old one. It will include dedicated cycle paths and pedestrian footways with LED lighting, which HS2 says will make it safer and more pleasant for people walking and cycling between Saltley and the city centre.

The next stage

In the second phase, due this month, a 35-metre span will be lifted into place directly over the HS2 corridor using heavy mobile cranes. The full viaduct is expected to reopen to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians in November 2027.

Until then, drivers, bus passengers and cyclists will need to continue to use the signed diversion routes.

HS2 in Birmingham

The Saltley Viaduct is one of many structures being built or rebuilt in Birmingham for HS2. The line will approach the city centre through the Washwood Heath area, where a depot is planned, before running into the new Curzon Street station in Eastside.

At Curzon Street, engineers finished the station's foundations in March and have been lifting hundreds of concrete beams into place to support the platforms. A tower crane is due to be installed at the station later this month.

When will trains run?

HS2 has said services between Old Oak Common in west London and Birmingham Curzon Street are expected to start between 2036 and 2039. The project's cost and timetable have been revised several times, and the Government has asked the company to bring costs under control.

A second station, Birmingham Interchange, is being built near the NEC and Birmingham Airport in Solihull.

Disruption and benefits

HS2 construction has caused years of disruption for people living and working near the route in east Birmingham, including road closures and noise. Supporters say the railway will bring long-term benefits, including faster journeys to London, more space on existing lines for local and freight trains, and investment in the areas around the new stations.

Jobs

Thousands of people work on HS2 sites in and around Birmingham, and many local people have been recruited and trained through apprenticeships and employment programmes linked to the project.

Keeping informed

HS2 publishes information about works in each area, including closures and diversions, on its website. Residents can also sign up for local updates and contact the project's helpdesk with questions or complaints.

How big structures are moved

Large bridge spans are often built beside the route and then moved into place in one go, using hydraulic jacks or self-propelled transporters with dozens of wheels. That approach means railways and roads underneath only need to be closed for a short time, usually a weekend, rather than for months while a bridge is built in position.