River Blythe Viaduct
The River Blythe Viaduct will be a 475-metre low-lying structure, just south of the new HS2 Interchange Station in Solihull, taking high speed trains between London and the West Midlands. It will cross the River Blythe and Meriden Road whilst anchoring itself to Diddington Lane Farm and Patrick Farm in Solihull.
Viaduct construction
The viaduct has received Schedule 17 planning approval from Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. To minimise the impact on the local road network and nearby residents during construction, an alternative access route will be built to access the viaduct directly from the A425, by-passing Meriden Road.
Viaduct design
Feedback from the local community during engagement activities has been taken on board, particularly regarding tree planting and protecting the local environment.
The viaduct is designed to skim the flat, agricultural landscape and achieve better connectivity between existing areas of species-rich meadow. The wetland landscape around the viaduct will be enhanced and a new wetland link will be introduced under the viaduct. Ecology work includes restoring and creating marshy grassland, new lengths of hedgerow, and woodland edge planting, so that trains emerge onto the viaduct from a woodland canopy. Bat boxes, bird boxes and hibernacula homes for amphibians and reptiles will also be installed.
The space under the viaduct will allow safe passage for a range of species, including dispersal routes for badgers, bats, birds, fish, great crested newts, otters and water voles. The design will allow views through and around the viaduct, and the polished concrete acoustic parapets will visually reduce the mass of the structure, as well as minimising noise for local residents. In addition, the heritage integration plan for nearby Patrick Farm aims to preserve the site’s natural beauty and rich history through a number of measures, including restoring orchard planting to reflect the historical use of species such as walnut, cherry, hazel, apple and damson.
Slide 1 of 6: View towards Diddington Lane abutment
Slide 2 of 6: View from the River Blythe looking east
Slide 3 of 6: View from side of Meriden Road
Slide 4 of 6: View from north side of Patrick Farm looking south
Slide 5 of 6: View from Meriden Road looking south-west
Slide 6 of 6: View from Meriden Road looking north
Keeping you informed
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Managing impacts of construction
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Construction look-ahead
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