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New major HS2 works to disrupt M6 and M42 traffic

Alec BlackmanWest Midlands
HS2 Ltd/ Ibraheem Munawar An aerial view of the preparatory work to install the structure that will carry the high speed rail line over the M42.HS2 Ltd/ Ibraheem Munawar
The HS2 work, which will go on until November, will see a "twin box" structure built to carry the railway over the motorways

Drivers are being warned to expect weekend disruption until November as HS2 carries out major engineering work that will carry the track over the M6 and the M42.

A series of weekend road closures begins at 21:00 BST on Saturday and will see the first set of beams to support a "twin box" structure over the motorways installed.

The twin box is what the line will run through when trains start operating between Birmingham and London.

Anges Usciak, senior project manager for the works, said: "The progress we're making on the viaducts and structures next to the M6 and the M42 is already clear to see, and over the next six months, we'll start bridging the gaps above the carriageways."

HS2 Ltd/ John Zammit A view of the concrete supports in place before beams are installed for the twin box structure that will carry the HS2 line over both the M42 and the M6.HS2 Ltd/ John Zammit
Work to install structures to carry the high speed rail line over the M6 and M42 will last until November

The latest work will see a series of beams installed to build what HS2 Ltd calls a roof deck, basically putting a cover over the motorways and creating a floor on which the twin box for the railway lines can be built.

A total of 175 beams, each weighing up to 92 tonnes, will make up the roof deck and will be lifted into place using a 300-tonne crane.

HS2 Ltd/ John Zammit Part of the works for the twin box structure at the M42.HS2 Ltd/ John Zammit
The work starting on 26 June will see beams lifted in place over the M42 to provide a floor for the high speed railway line to run over, connecting Birmingham to London

While that happens, in a series of four overnight weekend road closures, other engineers will start extending the single-track viaducts at Water Orton - to take trains over the M42 and in and out of the new Curzon Street station in Birmingham.

'Use alternative routes'

The work between the end of June and November will take place in six stages:

  • 26 June - 29 June: the installation of the first beams
  • 24 July - 27 July: more beam installation and work on the Water Orton viaduct
  • 14 August - 17 August: continued work at Water Orton and the installation of the twin box beam
  • 12 August - 24 August: the M6 South viaduct is put in place
  • 18 September - 21 September: more work at the Water Orton viaduct and the final beam installations over the M42
  • October - November: installation of the parapets for the Water Orton viaduct (date to be confirmed).

HS2 Ltd said it had worked with National Highways over the closures, in an attempt minimise the disruption to one of the busiest motorways in the UK.

Ian Doust, head of network planning and development at National Highways, said: "We recognise that there will, inevitably, be some disruption during these weekend closures so we would advise people to leave extra time for journeys and take alternative routes if at all possible."

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