Artist's impression: Aerial view of the River Cole Viaducts

Artist's impression of the River Cole Viaducts.

River Cole Viaducts and Chattle Hill Structure

The River Cole East and West Viaducts and the Chattle Hill Structure are part of the Delta Junction – a triangular section of line where the HS2 route curves west towards Birmingham and runs north towards Crewe and beyond. They will take the new HS2 railway across the M6, M6 slip road to the A446 Lichfield Road and M6/M42 junction in North Warwickshire.

Slide 1 of 3: Artist's impression of the view of the River Cole Viaducts, from the footpath towards the River Cole (1).

Slide 2 of 3: Artist's impression of the view of the River Cole Viaducts.

Slide 3 of 3: Artist's impression of the view of the River Cole Viaducts, from the footpath towards the River Cole (2).

Viaducts construction

The two parallel River Cole Viaducts will be constructed near Coleshill. Landscaping around them will create new public spaces with footpaths and cycleways allowing people to enjoy and better understand their local heritage. The area has a rich history, including a medieval deer park, the Tudor Coleshill Manor and the expansive Elizabethan garden, which HS2 archaeologists recently uncovered.

Further north, the Chattle Hill Structure will be constructed from reinforced concrete and is designed for an operational life of 120 years. Most of the railway in this area will be raised above existing ground level, to span across existing roads, railways, and rivers. It will allow the HS2 line to cross over the A446 Lichfield Road, letting vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians pass underneath. A continuous noise barrier will be provided along the east of the track to reduce noise levels for local residents. As part of the works, the structure will facilitate upgrading of the A446 to a dual carriageway, in line with Warwickshire County Council’s future aspirations.

Watch on YouTube - HS2’s River Cole Viaducts take shape in the Delta Junction

Viaducts design

The design vision for the Delta Junction is to integrate HS2 into the landscape. This will be achieved by creating a harmonic relationship with the railway and wider landscape through the use of connectivity, habitat creation, landscape integration and flood mitigation.

The plans are designed to ensure the least possible disruption to local communities and HS2 is in discussions with the local highways authority regarding the implementation of traffic management associated with the construction of the Chattle Hill Structure.

New designs reduce the height of the western viaduct from 10m to 4m, which results in a 36% reduction in materials being used and a 26% reduction in the viaduct’s carbon footprint. The material for the beams has also been changed from concrete to steel, bringing environmental benefits. Less material and construction time is needed and 97% of the steel will come from recycled sources.

Design information boards

Landscape and the environment

Extensive new landscape and wildlife areas inspired by local heritage will be created around the viaducts, while new footpaths and cycleways will promote active travel and enable people to explore the rich history of the area. Wetlands, ponds and habitats will also provide homes for fish, amphibians, dragonflies, otters, great crested newts, reptiles and badgers, increasing the local biodiversity.

The land beside the River Cole has been identified as a heritage hotspot, as it shows a rich history from pre-Roman times up to the middle of the last century. Two of the main heritage assets of the area, Coleshill Manor parkland and the Elizabethan Manor of Coleshill Hall, have been used to influence the design of the landscape in this area.

For the area closest to the River Cole Viaducts a parkland landscape has been designed so it flows down to the realigned river. Further south, a grid of tree planting has been included, which harks back to a similar feature found in the Elizabethan era.

At the Chattle Hill Structure, there are plans for a ‘blossom walk’ to link to a new community orchard and allotment areas, along with the planting of fruit trees and herbs for foraging.