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The complex operation involved the lifting of eight pre-manufactured 'U'-shaped welded steel box girder sections, ranging from 76 to 273 tonnes, into place. These sections were positioned onto six concrete piers and four abutments to form two parallel viaducts that span the River Cole.
The steel sections were transported to the site using self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) before being lifted into place by a Liebherr LR 1600-2 crawler crane, a specialized piece of equipment capable of lifting up to 600 tonnes and operating at heights of up to 50 meters.
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This part of the HS2 route, known as the Delta Junction, connects London to the West Midlands and features 13 viaducts, taking the high-speed railway over various obstacles including motorways, rivers, and floodplains. The River Cole viaducts are part of a realignment of the river to facilitate the passage of high-speed trains between London and Birmingham, ultimately bringing passengers into Birmingham’s flagship Curzon Street Station.
The completion of the two River Cole viaduct spans follows the successful installation of two other viaduct spans over the M42/M6 link roads, bringing the total number of Delta Junction viaducts in place to four. The next stage of work will focus on installing parapets and pre-cast concrete elements, with the final structures expected to be completed next year.
Sam Hinkley, Lead Senior Project Manager for Delta Junction at HS2 Ltd said: "This is a fantastic milestone for the team, who have delivered meticulous planning, design and coordination to skillfully complete this huge engineering operation in such a complex construction area.
"This is world-class civil engineering being delivered to improve connectivity in the West Midlands. It’s fantastic to see the Delta Junction viaducts take shape, with more big construction operations set to be delivered in 2025."
