HS2 has shared an update on the progress of a new green bridge near Kenilworth, Warwickshire. The Stoneleigh Road bridge will feature a dual carriageway for vehicles and two nature corridors to allow wildlife to safely cross the high-speed railway. This bridge is one of 16 green bridges planned for the HS2 project between London and the West Midlands.
Construction on the 33-metre-long and 42-metre-wide bridge began in October 2023, with a team of 50 people working at peak times. Recently, the team has been finalizing the bridge, including installing 32 parapets and pouring 1,900 cubic metres of concrete to create the deck slab in late 2024.
With the main construction now complete, engineers will start realigning Stoneleigh Road over the bridge and building a new roundabout connecting to Stoneleigh Business Park. Hedgerows and vegetation will be planted in nine-meter strips along the realigned road to create safe passages for birds, small animals, and insects.
The realignment and landscaping are expected to be finished by Autumn 2025, after which traffic will start flowing over the bridge.
This complex project is being managed by HS2’s construction partner for the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), which is responsible for constructing 90 kilometres of HS2 from Long Itchington in Warwickshire to Birmingham and Staffordshire.
Vicki Lee, Senior Project Manager for HS2 Ltd, said:
“A big thank you to everyone involved both onsite and behind the scenes as we reach this exciting next phase of Stoneleigh Road green bridge’s development, following a great deal of hard work.
“What makes Stoneleigh Road bridge special is the addition of valuable green space either side, meaning wildlife can safely pass over the high-speed railway line. Wherever possible, it’s important we integrate green measures and multifunctional design features, creating a railway that blends into the character of the surrounding landscape.”
George Shopland, Project Manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI, said:
“We’ve recently completed a huge single-span deck pour on the Stoneleigh Road bridge and are finishing installing 32 parapets, each weighing nine tonnes. This is another significant achievement for the Balfour Beatty VINCI team.
“Completing this work means we’re entering the next exciting phase of construction, which includes realigning Stoneleigh Road over the top of the bridge and creating two green corridors on both sides of the carriageway.”
Route-wide, HS2 is building more than 500 bridging structures – including over 50 major viaducts. These will stretch for a combined total of 15 kilometres across valleys, rivers, roads and flood plains.
Image and Video credit: HS2
