UK's longest railway bridge reaches completion for HS2
The 3.4-kilometre-long Colne Valley viaduct, described as "a striking HS2 landmark", has reached completion in the south of England, becoming the UK's longest railway bridge.
Traversing the Colne Valley near the village of Denham, the structure takes the title of the UK's longest railway bridge from the Tay Bridge between Fife and Dundee, which had held it since 1887.
Once in use, the viaduct will carry high-speed trains belonging to the controversial HS2 network at a speed of 321 kilometres per hour, passing over roads and waterbodies northwest of London.
Construction of the Colne Valley viaduct has been led by contractor Align with construction engineering firm Bouygues Travaux Publics and civil engineering companies VolkerFitzpatrick and Sir Robert McAlpine.
It is formed of 1,000 distinctively contoured, pre-cast concrete decks, which sit 10 metres above ground.
The bridge stretches between the 13.5-kilometre-long Northolt Tunnel that runs beneath London and the 16-kilometre-long Chiltern Tunnel, which is the longest tunnel in the HS2 network.
HS2's senior project manager Billy Ahluwalia described the completion of the Colne Valley bridge as "a remarkable achievement".
"The viaduct is a structure of international significance – a stunning feat of engineering that will no doubt stand the test of time," Ahluwalia said.
"I'm immensely proud of the Align team and our supply chain partners," added Align's project director Coralie Peroux.
"Their efforts have produced a striking HS2 landmark and created a valuable learning legacy for future designers, engineers and construction professionals."
More than 50 viaducts are being built for HS2, the high-speed railway that will link London and Birmingham. The proposed northern leg beyond Birmingham has been scrapped.
The project has been highly controversial, partly for its environmental impact on the Chilterns, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) through which it cuts.
Ballooning costs and delays have also had a part to play, as well as the scaling back of the project, which means trains north of Birmingham will run via existing slower rail infrastructure.
Other HS2 landmarks currently under construction include Grimshaw's sculptural metal enclosure for a HS2 ventilation shaft in Amersham.
The studio is also designing the overhaul of London's Euston station, which will be updated with a "bold geometric roof" and transform it into a high-speed railway terminus.
The photography is courtesy of HS2.
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