The primary of 38 metal beams have accomplished their 560-mile journey from Eiffage Steel’s workshop in France to the English Chilterns on the again of extra-long lorries.
HS2 says that every of the 40-tonne beams is product of metal that’s designed to naturally climate to a darkish brown color over time and mix into the countryside. (The uninformed would possibly suppose they’ve simply gone rusty.)
Positioned south of the village of Wendover in Buckinghamshire, the 450-metre-long viaduct would be the first main railway bridge within the UK to be constructed with a double composite construction. Two metal girders will likely be sandwiched between two layers of bolstered concrete for max energy and minimal weight.
It’s considered one of 50 viaducts on the primary part of the HS2 excessive velocity railway line between London and the West Midlands. It’s being constructed by EKFB, a three way partnership of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial and BAM Nuttall, HS2 Ltd’s principal works contractor for the 80km part between the Chiltern Tunnel and Lengthy Itchington Wooden.
Over the summer season EKFB will assemble the beams into the primary of 5 90-metre lengthy spans. Pre-cast concrete sections will then be added to kind the box-like construction. These will then be pushed out from the north abutment onto every of the concrete piers later this yr.
HS2 Ltd challenge consumer Neil Winterburn stated: “It’s nice to see the primary beams arrive on web site. These big items of metal will play an important function within the modern double composite construction of the viaduct deck – and assist us minimize the quantity of embedded carbon within the construction.”
EKFB labored with its design associate ASC (a three way partnership between Arcadis, Setec and Cowi) and specialist architect Moxon on the viaduct design, which was impressed by constructions on the French excessive velocity TGV community. In addition to manufacturing the metal, Eiffage Steel can be main on the set up of the beams.
EKFB senior engineer James Collings added: “There’s been an incredible quantity of effort put in to get to this stage of development, together with an in depth earthworks and utilities programme and beam supply is a key milestone for the crew.
“As momentum gathers tempo and we proceed our preparations for the bridge deck launch, it’s nice to see these steels on web site, prepared for the subsequent part of construct. We’re beginning to see the viaduct emerge from its foundations and begin to take form above floor.”
Building has additionally begun on the piers – some as much as 14 metres excessive – that may assist the deck of the viaduct. These are product of a collection of hole pre-cast concrete shells which are positioned on high of one another and full of concrete and metal reinforcement.
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