Construction underway: the HS2 worksite at Calvert, where the line intersects the East West Rail route.
Construction on a major overbridge carrying East West Rail over High Speed 2 started in mid-April at Calvert, Buckinghamshire.
Almost 3km of earthworks and bridges for EWR are being built by HS2 main contract EKFB, a joint venture of Eiffage, Kier, Bam Nuttall and Ferrovial Agroman, in a bid to reduce disruption to the local community by combining work on both projects. Foundation works on the bridge – which crosses a 4km-long cutting on HS2 – began, with an EKFB/BauerKeller joint venture installing 38m deep foundation piles using a rotary bored piling rig.
Once this work is complete, attention focuses on constructing the eight-metre-high bridge abutments. The deck is due to be installed in 2022, with HS2 handing over the structures and earthworks embankment to EWR for installation of track and signalling. In addition to the bridge, HS2 will build a new junction to connect EWR with Aylesbury and Aylesbury Parkway.
Calvert is also home to an HS2 construction railhead, with more than 100 freight trains having already delivered material to the site. When the new railway is completed, the railhead and temporary access roads will be landscaped, with a small infrastructure maintenance depot built alongside the EWR route.
