A key road linking Aylesbury and Bicester was reopened on Monday after a weekend closure to reroute it via a new bridge across the HS2 route near Waddesdon.
The A41 overbridge was built slightly north of the existing road over two years and stretches for 80 metres across a cutting that will carry HS2 rail services between London and the West Midlands.
It is one of 500 bridging structures on the HS2 project, which range from small footbridges and drainage culverts to innovative ‘green bridges’ for wildlife and huge viaducts such as the record-breaking Colne Valley Viaduct which is now the longest of its kind in the UK.
Safety will be improved with new roundabouts on either side of the bridge allowing traffic from Blackgrove Road and Waddesdon Hill to join the A41 more easily. The footpath alongside the existing road south of Waddesdon has also been extended.
The bridge was built using a ‘top-down’ method, with the deck built at ground level resting on piles driven deep into the ground, before the earth was excavated to form the cutting.
Twenty-one U-shaped precast concrete beams were used to form the three spans of the bridge with the deck and wingwalls cast in situ. The total length of the road realignment is 2.6km from end to end, including seven sets of utility diversions.
While the vast majority of the work was delivered without disruption to traffic, a series of weekend closures were needed for utility works and to safely complete the tie-in with the existing road. Two more weekend closures will be required in the future to complete the final kerbs, road surfacing and some of the road lining.
HS2 Ltd’s Project Manager, Vlad Kolev said:
“Once complete, HS2 will dramatically improve journeys between our two largest cities while freeing up space on the existing rail network for more freight and local services.
“But it’s also important that we keep communities connected while we deliver this transformative project. That’s why smaller structures like the A41 overbridge are so important and I’d like to thank everyone in our team and across the supply chain who worked so hard to get it built and open to the public. It hasn’t been an easy job and I’d like to also thank the local community for their patience during the road closures.”
The construction of the bridge and road realignment was delivered by HS2’s main works contractor, EKFB - a group made up of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and Bam Nuttall.
The new road surface over the bridge was laid over the weekend with traffic using the new alignment from 5.30am on Monday morning. The temporary roundabout at the entrance to HS2’s A41 site compound will be removed at a later stage once HS2 construction is complete.
NC2A Project Director, Ignacio Chicharro said:
“The opening of this bridge and road realignment marks a great moment for both the project and for the local area. It is the culmination of years of dedicated effort, careful planning, and determination from the entire team.
“This milestone also highlights the best of our EKFB One Team spirit, made possible through the close collaboration with our supply chain and subcontractors. A special thanks to the team from Clancy, whose contributions have been invaluable.”
