Construction milestone reached at Thames Valley viaduct
A construction milestone has been reached at The Thame Valley viaduct near Aylesbury, set to carry the High Speed 2 (HS2) railway, as the first of 72 huge beams to support the deck were lifted into place.
The beams - 25 metres long and weighing 90 tonnes each - were craned on top of the viaduct piers, like "giant Lego blocks", said HS2.
READ MORE: Thame Valley viaduct for HS2 project will be fully manufactured offsite
Engineers say they are using a lighter weight design at the project, , inspired by viaducts on the Spanish high speed rail network, which reduces the amount of carbon-intensive concrete and steel in the structure, cutting its carbon footprint by about a third.
The viaduct was designed by HS2's main works contractor, EKFB. working with construction partner FC Civils Solutions.
"With four beams lifted into position and 36 piers already installed, we’re thrilled with progress made so far," said FC Civils Solutions' head of operations Tiago Palas.
"The installation of both the piers and beams has gone smoothly and we’re looking forward to seeing this viaduct coming together.
"And, despite some adverse weather recently, we’re delivering as planned, and this is really down to the expertise of the team and benefits associated with the construction method we’re using."
As previously reported, a pre-fabricated approach is being used to construct the viaduct, which means fewer lorries are needed to deliver material to site, construction is simplified, and waste is cut.
The 68 giant concrete piers - each weighing 42 tonnes - are also being cast at PACADAR UK’s factory on the Isle of Grain, in Kent.
Jennifer Lennon, HS2 Ltd's senior project manager, said: "HS2 will offer zero-carbon journeys from day one, but we’re also working hard to reduce the amount of carbon used in construction.
"That’s why we’re applying the latest approaches from across Europe to help us cut the amount of embedded carbon in our major structures and speed up construction."
"The post-tensioned double-beam approach used here has enabled the major elements of the viaduct to be manufactured off-site - dramatically improving efficiency, safety and quality while delivering outstanding performance and durability."
Following the success of the Thame Valley design, a similar approach is also being considered for the nearby Edgcote viaduct in Northamptonshire.
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