HS2 Construction Updates - Birmingham Area

[hwl]

Isn’t this more likely to be just the reinstatement of the A38 onto its original alignment? I think that’s really the only ‘A38 work’, (as mentioned in the quoted text), that’s outstanding in the Streethay area.

Agreed it will all be about the A38 going back to normal and digging out the HS2 alignment underneath as that is key to HS2 logistics for the surrounding HS2 alignment (lots of medium to long distance earth movements)

 

[Snow1964]

Details of a 10 day road closure of A446 Lichfield Road to construct the viaducts across the road, that are near northern end of the delta junction are now available.

Duration
Full 10-Day Closure:
Start: Monday 23 February 2026 at 00:01
End: Wednesday 4 March 2026 at 23:59
During this period, the section of A446 Lichfield Road east of Water Orton will be closed in both directions.

Overnight Weekday Closures:
The road will also be closed overnight from 20:00 to 06:00 on the following dates:
• Wednesday 18 March 2026
• Thursday 19 March 2026
• Monday 23 March 2026
• Tuesday 24 March 2026

What we are doing
Installing the viaduct segments of Water Orton Viaducts 1 and 2 over the carriageway and footway of the A446 Lichfield Road, including lifting concrete sections into place from a crane.

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/HS2-BBV-26-1609-AWN-2608-Notice-of-10-day-closure_-Overnight-Closures-on-A446-Lichfield-Road.pdf

 

[Snow1964]

A new drone video of Curzon Street station area, showing in detail progress on the foundations.

Lots of rebar at city end, lots of work in the middle of the site too. Starting to see areas where 6 piles are cropped and joined with a big concrete slab where pillars are going to be located. There are clearly 7 rows (for 7 platforms)

Lots of progress on the foundations, and evidence of backfill between these big concrete slabs too. Getting on for about half the site now seems to have foundations attached to the previously bored piles

Towards the end is a close up of a pile being cropped, with a hydraulic cutter that then lifts the spare concrete off the vertical rebar

Compared to where they were 6 months ago, I am guessing all the foundations will be done by late summer, and hopefully station build will be progressing upwards later this year

 

[chris2]

‘Bellingham Bridge’ move reported to begin May 24th according to the Railway Gazette.

In a process due to start on May 24, the entire truss structure will be pulled into its final position using a strand jack system. It will initially be dragged close to the railway over a number of nights between May 24 and 28, with this initial move requiring overnight possessions of the Cross-City railway as the bridge is slowly moved closer to its final position.


A three-day possession of the railway is then planned for the final shift to get the structure into place.

 

[Snow1964]

A new video from a vehicle has been uploaded crossing the new Aston Church Road viaduct which has just opened. Shows the new road in both directions (with a rather boring slow drive in middle to turn around due to roundabouts being partly closed off.

With the road now on new bridge over the existing line and HS2 tracks, presumably the old viaduct blocking HS2 alignment can be demolished soon.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jan 2026 ==

A new drone video of the Curzon Street station area has been uploaded Wednesday 28th.

Lots of work on foundations at the City end, piles, rebar and concrete slabs.

In middle of site rebar for some columns has now started to be installed.

By the canal, lots of temporary supports for construction now in place.

The Middleway viaduct that was moved into position last year is now being extended towards the station

 

[WWTownEnth]

Is there any more clarity on whether the Leeds Dive Under is still being built at the Delta Junction?

 

[bib]

A good flyover of the entire route from Curzon St to the bromford tunnel portal, lots of viaducts still to be built but you can see the alignment pretty clearly

 

[diffident]

There is some absolutely stunning drone footage coming out of this build, it's amazing to see it developing week-by-week.

Having grown up in the vicinity of the Bromford Tunnel portal, if this project was started 25 years ago, I'd wager my career would have been a hell of a lot different because I would have been facinated by this construction as a youngster!

 

[50032]

Quite surprised by the lack of construction at Saltley Viaduct. Presumably a new bridge will be built, and the old viaduct knocked down?

 

[Snow1964]

Quite surprised by the lack of construction at Saltley Viaduct. Presumably a new bridge will be built, and the old viaduct knocked down?

I suspect didn't want to close the road, whilst there was multiple lane closures and works on Aston Church Road.

But that has now opened (a week ago) on its new alignment, so presumably they will soon be able start lane closures on Saltley Viaduct once alternative road is fully open.

 

[swt_passenger]

I suspect didn't want to close the road, whilst there was multiple lane closures and works on Aston Church Road.

But that has now opened (a week ago) on its new alignment, so presumably they will soon be able start lane closures on Saltley Viaduct once alternative road is fully open.

I found an HS2 briefing paper on the two viaducts that confirms that the two jobs would be done sequentially, but it’s odd because it seems to read as though Saltley viaduct would be done first? If anyone wants to check it includes these paragraphs on page 26/27:

When Saltley Viaduct is closed, a diversion route will be put in place for all vehicles. A pedestrian route will also be provided throughout the construction works.

When Saltley Viaduct reopens, Aston Church Road will close to traffic. Vehicles will still able to use the surrounding roads. A pedestrian route will also be provided throughout the construction works.

https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/commonplace-customer-assets/hs2inbirmingham/Saltely%20%26%20Aston%20Public%20Engagement%20Booklet.pdf

 

[Snow1964]

I found an HS2 briefing paper on the two viaducts that confirms that the two jobs would be done sequentially, but it’s odd because it seems to read as though Saltley viaduct would be done first? If anyone wants to check it includes these paragraphs on page 26/27:

Looks like couple of overnight closures of Aston Church Road are still pending to check the expansion joints now traffic is using it. The diversion is via Saltley viaduct.

Location
Aston Church Road, between Chartist Road and A47 Heartlands Parkway

Duration
A full road closure in both directions:
Wednesday 4 February 2026 between 8.00pm – 6.00am.
Thursday 5 February 2026 between 8.00pm – 6.00am.

What we are doing
Aston Church Road has recently been realigned onto a new, taller bridge to accommodate the new railway beneath it, allowing it to reopen for vehicle traffic. As part of our early monitoring we need to carefully assess all forces acting on the bridge to ensure it is performing as designed – specifically on the expansion
joint. This inspection must be carried out from the carriageway, meaning the road will need to be closed temporarily while we complete this essential work.

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Night-closure-ACR.pdf

 

[stuving]

I found an HS2 briefing paper on the two viaducts that confirms that the two jobs would be done sequentially, but it’s odd because it seems to read as though Saltley viaduct would be done first? If anyone wants to check it includes these paragraphs on page 26/27:

I can think of lots of reasons why Saltley might have been delayed, such as utility diversions etc. The redesign of the deck (which was consulted on) seems to apply to Aston Church Road as well, so that wasn't it. The only clear constraint was the promise not to close both at once.

Here's a link to a recent (yesterday!) pedestrian video from the Saltley viaduct. You can see that they have built a big bit of the east abutment, and are starting work on the other abutment and piers. How much can be done before closing the existing viaduct I'm not sure: the words I can find are ambiguous, but the 2013 plan (which I can no longer find) suggests significant overlap.

 

[Geogregor]

Green Signals about Curzon 2 viaduct:

 

[Snow1964]

3 new drone videos have been posted of Curzon Street station site, showing progress

Detailed look at the site showing foundations of Curzon Street station, some rebar columns are now clearly visible. In other parts the 7 rows of foundations are now becoming obvious and started to backfill between the slabs that form the pile caps

This one includes a flight almost under the concrete approach viaduct and shows the huge amount of formwork framing currently stored there

This one is more an overview (might have been taken Sunday as doesn't appear to be any work going on)

Can also see that work has been progressing to start to add a nose to span the gap when the big Bellingham bridge is slid across the railway in May.

Also visible is the area that crosses the canal which is looking ready for the V shape bridge supports

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Feb 2026 ==

HS2 have announced that decks of Coleshill viaducts now complete

Engineers working on HS2’s complex triangular intersection outside Birmingham have successfully completed the construction of four parallel viaduct decks – an essential part of the huge project.

The viaducts being built near Coleshill in Warwickshire stretch for more than 600m and form a small part of the Delta junction – a huge intersection being built to the east of Birmingham for the new high-speed railway.

Like the nearby Spaghetti Junction, the Delta is formed of a series of interconnected viaducts, flyovers and underpasses, taking the high-speed line over motorways, local roads, railways, rivers and floodplains.

The Coleshill East and West viaducts form the southern part of the junction, where the railway split apart as it crosses a local road and the floodplain of the river Cole, between the M6 and M42.

Two parallel viaduct spans will carry the four-track mainline running north and south, while two narrower viaducts on either side will carry services to and from the new Birmingham Curzon Street station in the city centre.

HS2 completes deck assembly for Coleshill viaducts

View and embed new drone footage showing the Coleshill East and West viaducts between the M6 and M42 in Warwickshire. Engineers working for HS2 have installed more than a thousand concrete deck segments to form the 600m long viaducts across the B4114 (Birmingham Road) and the flood plain of the...

mediacentre.hs2.org.uk

 

[absolutelymilk]

HS2 have announced that decks of Coleshill viaducts now complete.

Excellent news!

 

[Snow1964]

Excellent news!

Having completed the decks of Coleshill viaducts, presumably can move the construction towers and crane and build the two missing viaducts at the north part of delta junction.

We know HS2 had to wait until the Christmas break to cross the railway, and there is an upcoming 7 day closure of A446 (starting 23 Feb) to build viaducts over that

What we are doing
Installing the segments of Water Orton Viaducts 1 and 2 over the carriageway and footway of the A446 Lichfield Road, including lifting concrete sections into place from a crane.

https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/UPDATE-2608-Notice-of-closure-on-A446-Lichfield-Road-_-Feb-26-1.pdf

 

[Snow1964]

HS2 have put out a new video to mark the completion of the 2011 foundation piles at Curzon Street Station.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Mar 2026 ==

A new drone video of Curzon Street site

Appears the earth mound near Moor Street station is being used to backfill around the pile caps at that end and level the ground.

Lots of work on pile caps when ground level changes (where end of station building will be)

Concrete Columns are now being cast, alongside section where the trams will pass underneath

Doesn't seem to be as much work going on at Country end of station, although various pile caps seem to be under construction.

The test viaduct beyond the canal (that odd one built sideways off the line) appears to be partly removed.

Lots more detail as various zoom in views of work

 

[jfowkes]

HS2 have put out a new video to mark the completion of the 2011 foundation piles at Curzon Street Station.

At around the 3 minute mark there's a CGI visual of the platforms and approaches - the southernmost track and platform doesn't have any OLE, I going to assume that's an oversight on the part of the graphics people and not indicative of the design...

 

[bigbigcheese]

At around the 3 minute mark there's a CGI visual of the platforms and approaches - the southernmost track and platform doesn't have any OLE, I going to assume that's an oversight on the part of the graphics people and not indicative of the design...

If my understanding is correct then for at least the first few decades (centuries?) four of the seven platforms won't even have any track, let alone OHLE... I think I read somewhere that it's going to be a three platform station until such a time as HS2 Phase 2A/B (har har...) get completed as there just won't be the demand/capacity requirement for any more to be completed.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

If my understanding is correct then for at least the first few decades (centuries?) four of the seven platforms won't even have any track, let alone OHLE... I think I read somewhere that it's going to be a three platform station until such a time as HS2 Phase 2A/B (har har...) get completed as there just won't be the demand/capacity requirement for any more to be completed.

I can see some logic in that. However, OOC is starting with all 6 platforms operational isn't it? May as well have the same at Curzon St.

 

[Bald Rick]

I can see some logic in that. However, OOC is starting with all 6 platforms operational isn't it? May as well have the same at Curzon St.

They will be needed at OOC…

 

[SCDR_WMR]

They will be needed at OOC…

Is that for reversals? Given the initial launch phase is OOC to Curzon, surely there is the same number of trains arriving at both ends.

 

[mds86]

Is that for reversals? Given the initial launch phase is OOC to Curzon, surely there is the same number of trains arriving at both ends.

During the initial phase yes, as it will be just an OOC to Curzon shuttle. Once Handsacre is complete then additional trains from the north will be terminating at OOC in the short term until the high speed platforms at Euston are ready

 

[Snow1964]

HS2 has issued a video, saying all the viaduct segments for delta junction are now made.
Some viaducts are now built (although parapets are still being installed), and others are still being built.

The Kingsbury site will now work on sections for Curzon approach viaducts

 

[Snow1964]

Another new drone video of Curzon Street station site.

Further progress with foundation construction, exposing piles, linking them with pile cap, and backfilling around gap at multiple places.

There seems to be short columns under construction at Moor Street Queensway end of the station.

Seem to be laying the floor of the five sided deeper hole in the Loverose Street area, a series of columns also visible here

A row of columns adjacent to the future tram underpass is now obvious (along edge of New Canal Street) which is currently closed, but which is being altered to a tram route

One the the bridge supports (the three pointed V shaped metal legs) is now installed by the canal, and massive crane parked nearby so presumably another is imminent

 

[chris2]

The area the tram will be running through is clearly the most advanced, and I believe there is an intention to hand this part of the site over ahead of the whole station being complete.

I’d be interested to know if there is a proposed timeline for this handover and also how finished this part of the station needs to be before this can happen.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Another new drone video of Curzon Street station site.

Further progress with foundation construction, exposing piles, linking them with pile cap, and backfilling around gap at multiple places.

There seems to be short columns under construction at Moor Street Queensway end of the station.

Seem to be laying the floor of the five sided deeper hole in the Loverose Street area, a series of columns also visible here

A row of columns adjacent to the future tram underpass is now obvious (along edge of New Canal Street) which is currently closed, but which is being altered to a tram route

One the the bridge supports (the three pointed V shaped metal legs) is now installed by the canal, and massive crane parked nearby so presumably another is imminent

Never get why they built those isolated sections of the approach viaduct into the station so far in advance of the rest of the works

 

[sturmey_archer]

As it was explained to me, every construction site needs a certain amount of space around it for access and storage and offices - at least if it is going to be safe and efficient.

And because there is so much construction that needs to happen there in such a small area (the station itself, the approach viaducts, the bridge over the canal, the bridge over the Middleway) they would all end up fighting for space if everything was built at once.

To reduce conflict, the plan was for BBV to build the approach viaduct and vacate the site before MDJV were granted access to start building the station. Granted, those viaducts have been sat finished for quite a while now, and the station is only just getting busy.

I think the canal bridge would have been more advanced by now, if they had not had assurance problems with the welds.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Never get why they built those isolated sections of the approach viaduct into the station so far in advance of the rest of the works

In this case it has allowed them to create a storage area beneath a basically completed section. They needed to create a storage area and this meant they left the station box area free for utilities and groundworks.

You could ask why this was scheduled prior to the station groundworks, and I guess the answer probably lies more with getting something fairly easy done and out of the way, they would use this area as storage regardless, given you could leave this until the end but if the station or bridges were delayed then the storage area would block this section until the very end.

As it is, once Bellingham Bridge is moved, there will be just a short section left to complete for that approach end to look well on the way to completion.