Kenilworth Overbridge

We are constructing Kenilworth Overbridge, in Warwickshire, to allow the HS2 railway to pass underneath the existing Coventry to Leamington Spa line.

In the short term it will also allow construction traffic to pass under this line, reducing the number of lorries on the public highways. The structure also features an adjoining access bridge for a nearby farmer, which will start construction shortly.

Overbridge construction

A team of 250 people worked around the clock to move the huge 5,600 tonne bridge into place. Moving at around 9 meters per hour, the operation took five and a half hours and was completed 27 hours ahead of schedule at 3.30am on Monday 31 July 2023.

From the start of the blockade, 113 metres of the existing rail track and 188 rail sleepers were removed by the team, then 15,000 cubic metres of ground, including hard sandstone material, was excavated to create the space for the bridge to be moved into. It was moved into place using five 3.8 tonne jacks on a sliding surface, which allowed the bridge to be jacked on a guiding raft slab over a distance of 47 metres.

This innovative construction method allowed the bridge to be moved in one movement, dramatically reducing disruption for rail passengers. The team then worked 24/7 to backfill above the structure and put the rail track back in place above it, ready for the railway to be re-opened days later.

Key facts

• Length: 22m
• Width: 11m
• Construction approach: Bridge constructed off-site and then slid into place in one movement to reduce disruption to rail users.
• Progress: Complete