by Kyle Molyneux | Tue 15 Aug 2023
HS2 removes bridge over M42 motorway
A team of 20 demolition experts from Solihull-based firm Armac Demolition has worked 24/7 to remove a 4,000-tonne, two-span bridge over the M42 to make way for the HS2 railway in the West Midlands. The team used eight 50-tonne excavators and two 40-tonne excavators to remove the 40m-long, 10m-wide bridge during a planned 56-hour closure of the motorway. Six articulated dumper trucks transported the excavated material to a local stockpile where it will be crushed and reused on HS2’s haul roads and working areas.
The whole job was completed sooner than anticipated, which meant the M42 could be reopened 14 hours ahead of schedule, shortening the closure to 42 hours and reducing disruption to road users. Armac was working for HS2’s civils contractor Balfour Beatty Vinci (BBV) to deliver the operation during the closure of the M42 near HS2’s Interchange Station construction site in Solihull. HS2 Ltd and BBV worked closely with National Highways and its supply chain to enable the demolition works, with all existing motorway technology diverted or removed prior to the demolition. In the last year, BBV has also diverted power and telecommunications cables away from the structure ahead of the demolition.
The bridge, which carried the A452 over the M42, was removed to allow for a new twin box structure to be constructed, which will carry the high speed line over the motorway in the future. HS2 has built a new, improved road structure and roundabout which now carries the A452, and in future will also enable access to the new HS2 Interchange Station.
From the full closure of the M42 at 00.25 on Saturday August 12th, a team of 30 people removed the motorway vehicle restraint system and installed protective matting. The 20-strong demolition team then moved in to remove the bridge deck, wing walls, central pier and abutments between 07.30 and 17.00 on Saturday August 12th. The matting was removed, carriageway cleaned, and central reservation and verge restraint systems reinstated, ready for the motorway to be re-opened at 15.00 on Sunday August 13th.
Coming up next, the BBV team will now start to construct the huge twin box structure, which will carry HS2 trains over the M42. The structure, measuring 300m in length by 25m in width will cover around 130m of the M42 and will be built in position whilst maintaining three lanes of traffic flowing on the M42.
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