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Artist impression of the Water Orton Viaducts.
Artist's impression of the Water Orton Viaducts.

Water Orton Viaducts

The Water Orton Viaducts, located east of the M42 and Lichfield Road, will be made up of two viaducts that will hold 700 metres of new HS2 track over the River Tame and a network of existing transport links, including the Birmingham-Peterborough line, running between Water Orton and Coleshill Parkway Stations.

They link the curve that heads west towards Birmingham with the main line heading north, and are needed in this location to carry the railway across a network of existing motorways, roads and footpaths.

Viaducts construction

The Water Orton viaducts will be 20 metres in height at their highest point and will include parapets, which are the outer edges and gully ways of the viaduct, to allow for safe maintenance and emergency access.

The viaducts will be held up by a series of 32 giant piers, which are supportive columns. The proportions and the spacing of the piers have to to deal with the weights and dynamic loads that they support.

The piers have been designed to meet these technical requirements while appearing as consistent and elegant as possible in the landscape. They will be built in situ with a bespoke formwork designed specifically for the project, and with a fully prefabricated reinforcement cage, assembled in the rebar factory located near Coleshill.

The piers will support the deck, which will be built using an innovative construction method and bespoke machinery. The deck segments will be produced at a nearby outdoor purpose-built Kingsbury factory near Lea Marston. The factory is making a total of 2,742 segments for the entire Delta Junction, generating over 6km of post tensioned viaduct. The segments will be transported to site using haul roads to reduce our impacts on local roads.

To reduce environmental impacts, engineers have incorporated Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS) – a by-product of the steel manufacturing industry – into the structures as an eco-friendly concrete alternative to a traditional concrete mix, reducing carbon use by more than 60%.

The viaduct spans will be built by raising each segment from a temporary suspension tower erected on top of each pier. When each span is complete, the suspension tower will be disassembled and moved further along the viaduct to build the next span.

Overhead power lines supplying the trains will be supported using steel masts aligned with the structural grid of the viaducts. These will be designed to be consistent along the whole route.

Viaducts design

Following public consultation, HS2 revealed new designs for the two Water Orton Viaducts, including new landscaped areas that will provide green public spaces and wildlife habitats.

Explore the In Your Area Map

Archaeology

Archaeology

The map displays information about our archaeological sites along the route.

Green Corridor

Green Corridor

The map displays information about our environmental sites along the route.

HS2 funded projects

HS2 funded projects

The map displays information about our funded community and business projects along the route.

Keeping you informed about our works

Stay informed about the works

Stay informed about the works

Find information about HS2 works and activities taking place in your area.

Managing impacts of construction

Managing impacts of construction

Find out information about how we manage construction impacts.

Construction look-ahead

Construction look-ahead

Read our three-month lookahead for associated work in Warwickshire.

Find out what HS2 means for Warwickshire

This section provides you with information about HS2 works and developments in your area.

Find out more

Further information

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