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Source: Align JV/Grimshaw
Source: Align JV/Grimshaw
Source: Align JV/Grimshaw
Source: Align JV/Grimshaw
Source: Align JV/Grimshaw
Source: Align JV/Grimshaw
HS2 has begun work on the UK’s longest railway bridge, with contractors sinking the primary of just about 300 piles that may kind the foundations for the Colne Valley Viaduct.
The viaduct, which can carry the brand new high-speed rail line for 3.4km on the north-west outskirts of London, will likely be nearly a kilometre longer than the Forth Rail Bridge in Scotland.
The Grimshaw-designed viaduct features a sequence of spans, some as much as 80m lengthy, carrying the railway round 10m above the floor of lakes, the River Colne and the Grand Union Canal.
The construction will likely be supported by 56 piers, with the widest spans reserved for the place the viaduct crosses the lakes and narrower spans for the approaches. The design was chosen to allow views throughout the panorama, minimise the viaduct’s footprint on the lakes and assist complement the pure environment.
Main contractor on the job is the Align three way partnership, a workforce of Bouygues, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick. Over the following yr, Align will sink 292 piles into the bottom to assist the viaduct’s piers. Piles will likely be pushed as much as 55m into the bottom and as a substitute of being hammered, holes will likely be bored earlier than being backfilled to create the pile.
The essential deck of the viaduct will likely be in-built sections at a brief manufacturing unit close by earlier than being assembled from north to south.
Last week Grimshaw heard that ministers need it to cut back its designs for the HS2 terminus at Euston.
