Balfour Beatty VINCI, working on behalf of HS2, successfully removed a 4,000 tonne two-span bridge over the M42 in the West Midlands, 14 hours ahead of schedule. The bridge was removed to make way for the construction of a new twin box structure that will carry the HS2 railway over the motorway. The demolition operation involved a team of 20 demolition experts from Armac Demolition, who used excavators and articulated dumper trucks to remove the bridge. The excavated material will be crushed and reused on HS2's haul roads and working areas. The completion of the bridge removal ahead of schedule allowed for the reopening of the M42 earlier than anticipated, reducing disruption to road users.
Oliver Shore, Construction Director at Balfour Beatty VINCI, said, "It is through relentless collaboration with HS2 and National Highways that we have achieved this latest milestone in less than two days, overcoming technical and logistical challenges along the way." Ian Clarke, Senior Project Manager at HS2 Ltd, added, "The team did a brilliant job to get the demolition finished way ahead of schedule, meaning the motorway could be reopened much earlier than anticipated."
The bridge removal was part of a larger project to construct the new twin box structure that will carry HS2 trains over the M42. The structure, measuring 300 metres in length and 25 metres in width, will cover around 130 metres of the motorway and will be built while maintaining three lanes of traffic flowing on the M42.
Overall, the successful completion of the bridge removal ahead of schedule demonstrates the collaboration and efficiency of the teams involved in the HS2 project, as well as their commitment to minimizing disruption to road users.