THE 200-METRE-LONG portal for the Burton Green porous tunnel near Kenilworth has been finished, with 500 metres of the structure to be completed.
Built by main civils contractor Balfour Beatty Vinci, the tunnel will have green space created over the top with trees and plants, creating a new facility for local communities.
More than 160 roof segments were installed on the portal, each weighing more than 20 tonnes. The portal features a series of vents in the roof which reduce the ‘piston effect’ of trains moving through the structure.
Soil generated by the excavation is being used as part of wider landscaping plans in the area which aim to integrate HS2 into the environment, reconnect wildlife habitats and increase biodiversity.
When construction and landscaping work is complete, the Kenilworth Greenway will be restored close to its original alignment, running along the top of the tunnel. It will provide a link from Burton Green to Kenilworth and Berkswell for walkers, cyclists and equestrians.
Balfour Beatty Vinci Senior Project Manager Rupert Blake said: ‘We’re making great progress with the construction of the Burton Green Tunnel, with the south portal now complete. The next phase of construction will…
