Notice update – Washwood Heath Brook Diversion

What we are doing

Wash Brook diversion

We previously notified you that we will need to temporarily divert a section of the Wash Brook that runs through the site in underground pipes known as a culvert into the River Thame, and that these works would be completed by the end of July 2022. We now expect to carry out this work in phases until 2 September 2022.

We need to do this work because the HS2 construction works will be taking place close to the current location of the culverted brook. This means that if the brook remains in its current location there is a risk of damaging the pipes as we dig deep down into the ground to lay the foundations for the structures of the new railway.

Sheet Piling

Due to the onsite ground conditions creating more resistance than expected we have had to change our technique to install the sheet piles. We had planned to use a pre-augered vibration technique, where we pre bore the ground and use a vibration hammer to vibrate the sheet piles in to place. We however have had to switch to a more forceful piling hammer technique to install the sheet piles into the resistant ground.

Unfortunately, the piling hammer produces more noise than our original method which may be heard from streets surrounding our site. To help reduce the noise heard by neighbours we have been installing acoustic fencing on our site, the installation is now complete. We are also carrying out noise monitoring on our site boundaries and in some nearby properties to ensure that we do not exceed the noise levels that we are permitted to work within.

Download information relating to these works

• Notice update – Washwood Heath Brook Diversion

Find out more about

• Birmingham

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email [email protected]