HS2 achieves a significant milestone in its gateway to Birmingham announcing the construction of the Bromford Tunnel has reached the halfway point.
The 125-metre-long 1,600 tonne tunnel boring machine (TBM) named ‘Mary Ann’ has excavated and built 1.75 miles of the first bore of the tunnel since it started digging from a large underground box in Water Orton last year.
Working 40 meters underground towards Washwood Heath in Birmingham the TBM has as excavated under the Park Hall Nature Reserve and River Tame and is now passing under Castle Vale.
A total of 20,797 concrete segments will be put in place by the machine, making 2,971 concrete rings from Water Orton and Washwood Heath.
Steve Powell, HS2’s Head of Delivery said: “We’re now at peak construction in the West Midlands, and it’s great to celebrate the halfway point for the ‘Mary Ann’ tunnel drive into Birmingham.
“By the end of next year, both of these tunnels will be built, marking a significant step in HS2’s construction in the region.”
Jules Arlaud, Tunnelling Director for Balfour Beatty VINCI added: “Reaching the halfway point on this complex stretch of the HS2 route into Birmingham is a great milestone for our 180-strong tunnelling team.
“We’re looking ahead now to delivering the final stages of tunnelling and celebrating the breakthrough of both TBMs at Washwood Heath next year.”
To prepare for works at Washwood Heath, HS2 has completed a ‘huge’ earthworks operation.
A team of 130 people have built the tunnel’s west portal and at 22 meters below ground, it is the deepest of the four tunnel portals on the Midlands section of the HS2 route.
According to HS2 the portal is at the start of a 750-metre-long cut and cover structure, which is currently being excavated and built.
This is where HS2 trains will emerge from the Bromford Tunnel and travel below ground level, before raising up onto a series of viaducts through Birmingham’s industrial heartland and into Curzon Street Station.
Steve also commended the 31,000 people currently working on HS2 confirming about a third of them are working in the West Midlands.
He said this includes 615 apprentices and over 1,650 people who were previously unemployed as he acclaimed the project as a unique opportunity for local people to learn new skills while delivering the UK’s largest construction programme.