That’s to avoid having a relatively deep cutting, at about 45-50m deep, which at modern standards would require about a 200m wide void in the existing hill. I think it’s a reasonable decision compared to leaving it fully open.
Is this map from the HS2 website the right area?
Thanks.
It's actually quite hard to get HS2 plans - there are plans as part of the bill environmental statement, but then a lot of them are superseded by the additional provisions, and the original maps aren't updated, you just have to piece things together from the original maps and the snippets of maps in the AP
That’s very pertinent. We saw quite a few changes in the vicinity of the EWR/HS2 crossing, where for example you just have to know when looking at the main map series that the southern depot access spur is no longer being built…
To make direct comparison easier, here's the HS2 plan rotated to north-up, scaled (by eye) to match, and side by side with the latest Google Earth picture. The box is definitely in the same place as on the plan, but significantly shorter. So it will indeed be interesting to see how the road fits onto it.
I drove past it the other day - must admit that it looks bigger/wider in person than on the photos, I just think that the overhead compared to the plan has it aligned more to the right so it could cause an unnecessary kink in the road alignment. I still think it looks more aligned to carrying the road that leads to Mercote Hall Lane though. I guess only time will tell...
The road bridge under discussion here has been reported complete by HS2, a recent video from ‘wandering northerner’ shows the current situation. Still looks as though the road will need a significant ‘S bend’:
Considering the costs incurred in constructing HS2, I find it surprising that the A46 needs to be closed for such a long time. It seems that elsewhere similar bridges can be pushed into place over a weekend. I remember the Bridge being installed under the Coventry to Rugby line for Allard Way, and that was completed in a weekend with time to spare over 40 years ago.
Isnt it 6 lanes along there? Thats not the same as pushing under a two track railway.
I suspect the reinstatement time quoted for the Allard Way bridge didn’t include building the new road. As you suggest it seems obvious that when a bridge is pushed through an existing operational 6 lane dual carriageway the time to reinstate the road surfaces to their normal condition will take much longer than reinstating two ballasted tracks.