Construction On HS2 Burton Green Tunnel Reaches Halfway Point

Construction on the HS2 Burton Green Tunnel in Warwickshire, led by Balfour Beatty VINCI, has reached its halfway point, marking a significant milestone in the project. When complete, the 700-meter tunnel will guide high-speed trains under the village of Burton Green, near Kenilworth, with a landscaped green space on top for community use. This tunnel is one of five 'green tunnels' in the HS2 project—shallow, eco-friendly tunnels designed to blend seamlessly with the landscape through a top layer of trees, plants, and shrubs.


Alongside Burton Green, green tunnels will also be built in Copthall (Hillingdon), Wendover (Buckinghamshire), and Chipping Warden and Greatworth (Northamptonshire).

Engineered by Mott MacDonald as part of the Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture, the Burton Green tunnel is being constructed using a 'top-down' method, where side walls and the roof are built first from ground level, leaving open spaces to facilitate excavation below. Over the past year, significant progress has been made, including the completion of the 200-meter-long southern portal and a range of foundational structures, such as retaining walls and over 1,300 concrete piles, requiring a total of 33,000 cubic meters of concrete.

With 150 team members now on site, the next phase involves further excavation and the installation of key components such as roof and base slabs and interior structural elements. Excavated soil will be repurposed for surrounding landscaping, supporting the project’s sustainability goals. Full completion of the Burton Green Tunnel is anticipated by autumn 2026.