HS2 Completes Key Water Orton Viaduct Spans Over Birmingham to Peterborough Railway Line

Major Milestone Achieved for HS2 Delta Junction

Engineers working on the High Speed 2 (HS2) project have successfully completed the installation of two parallel viaduct spans over the existing Birmingham to Peterborough railway line near Water Orton, Warwickshire. This significant construction milestone was achieved during a five-day railway closure over the recent Christmas period of 2025.

The work was carried out by teams from Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), HS2's main works contractor for the West Midlands. The completion of these spans represents a crucial step forward for the Delta Junction, a vast and complex triangular intersection being built to the east of Birmingham.

The Water Orton Viaducts: A Key Component of the Delta Junction

The Water Orton Viaducts are integral to the Delta Junction, which is designed to facilitate HS2 services to and from Birmingham, as well as connecting to the mainline heading north and south. This extensive junction will carry the high-speed railway over a network of existing transport links, including motorways, local roads, rivers, and floodplains.

Once fully complete, the two single-track Water Orton Viaducts will stretch for approximately 1.4 kilometres (0.87 miles). They are set to cross two railways, the River Tame, local roads, and the M42 motorway.

Innovative Construction and Sustainable Materials

The construction of these viaducts involves supporting the structure on 32 giant piers, some reaching up to 20 metres in height. The spans themselves are assembled using pre-cast concrete segments and a specialist cantilever technique, a method described by Stephane Ciccolini, Senior Works Manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI, as 'not seen in the UK before this project'. A total of 2,742 concrete segments are being manufactured at a temporary factory near Lea Marston to create over 6 kilometres of post-tensioned viaduct for the entire Delta Junction.

In a commitment to environmental sustainability, the structures incorporate Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS), a by-product of the steel manufacturing industry. This eco-friendly concrete alternative is expected to reduce carbon use by more than 60%.

Official Statements and Future Outlook

Sam Hinkley, HS2 Ltd's Senior Project Manager, expressed gratitude to the teams involved, stating, 'It's great to see the Water Orton viaducts in place across the railway and I'd like to thank everyone who gave up their Christmas to help us reach this important milestone and I'd like to thank passengers for their patience.' Mr. Ciccolini added, 'We've worked around the clock during the Christmas period to deliver this incredible feat of engineering.'

During the five-day closure, rail replacement buses operated between Birmingham New Street and Coleshill to minimise disruption to passengers. With the railway crossing now complete, construction efforts will shift to extending the viaducts over the nearby A446 road and the M42 motorway in the coming year.