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Artist's impression of the Greatworth Green Tunnel.
Artist's impression of the Greatworth Green Tunnel.

Green Tunnels

Over half of the route between London and the West Midlands will be in tunnels or cuttings, helping to reduce the visual impacts in the landscape.

Some of our tunnels will created by Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) while others will be built using the cut-and-cover method of construction with trees and shrubs then planted on top. This is why they’re known as ‘green tunnels’.

This is a simple method of construction for shallow tunnels and we’re building these to help reduce the impact on people and nature.

Five cut and cover, or ‘green’ tunnels will be built on the first phase of HS2 between London and the West Midlands.

Construction divided into three stages

First, a cutting is excavated where the green tunnel is needed. The excavated earth is kept close by, as it will be needed later on.

In the second stage, once the concrete floor has been laid, pre-cast segments are installed forming the structure of the tunnel.

The final stage occurs after the tunnels have been installed. The earth removed from the area is back-filled, new trees and shrubs are planted and the tunnel blends into the landscape, connecting wildlife habitats along the line of route.

We will be constructing five ‘green tunnels’ on the first phase of the project, between London and the West Midlands.  These will be located in: Copthall in Hillingdon, Wendover in Buckinghamshire Chipping Warden and Greatworth, both in Northamptonshire, and Burton Green in the West Midlands.

Our green tunnels

Copthall Green Tunnel

Copthall Green Tunnel

Copthall Green Tunnel will be located within the London Borough of Hillingdon and is 880m long.

Greatworth Green Tunnel

Greatworth Green Tunnel

The 1.7 miles (2.7km) Greatworth Green Tunnel’ will be built in Northmaptonshire.

Chipping Warden Green Tunnel

Chipping Warden Green Tunnel

The 1.5 mile (2.5km) green tunnel is being built in Northamptonshire.

Burton Green Tunnel

Burton Green Tunnel

The 700m Burton Green Tunnel will be built in the West Midlands.

Further information

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