HS2 has successfully completed a significant stage in the construction of the replacement Saltley Viaduct, with engineers installing the first section of the new bridge over the Birmingham to Derby railway line during the August Bank Holiday weekend.
The operation marks a key milestone in a major infrastructure project that will ultimately allow high-speed trains to pass safely beneath a new, taller structure while improving facilities for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
The original Saltley Viaduct, which crossed a 183-metre stretch of the B4114 in Birmingham, was closed to traffic and pedestrians in May 2026 before being demolished to make way for a larger replacement capable of accommodating the future HS2 route.
Delivered by HS2's construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), the complex programme is being carried out in multiple phases due to the challenging environment. The new structure must span the Birmingham to Derby railway line, the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal, the River Rea and the future HS2 railway alignment.
During the Bank Holiday possession, engineers manoeuvred the first 55-metre-long steel span into position using self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs). The bridge section had been assembled adjacent to the former viaduct before being moved approximately 125 metres into its final position above the railway.
The work was completed in partnership with Network Rail during a planned rail closure, with services returning to normal as scheduled on Tuesday morning.
Nic Ryder, HS2 Ltd’s project manager for the works said:
"Our engineering team is making fantastic progress and everyone worked incredibly hard over the Bank Holiday weekend to ensure we were finished in time for the railway to reopen.
"In the three months since the road closed, they have demolished the original structure and successfully installed the first span of the replacement bridge, putting us on track to proceed to the next phase."
With the first of four construction phases now complete, attention turns to the second span, a 35-metre-long section that will cross the future HS2 railway. This element is scheduled to be lifted into position by crane in October.
Engineers will then install the third and fourth spans across the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal later this year. The final stages will include connecting the structure to its supporting abutments and constructing a new bridge over the River Rea as part of the wider realignment of the B4114.
Dan Binns, Senior Project Manager for Balfour Beatty VINCI, said:
"The new Saltley Viaduct is the latest HS2 structure to emerge in this area of Birmingham, after BBV engineers safely manoeuvred the first 55-metre span over an existing rail line.
"We chose the same technique used on the neighbouring Aston Church Road bridge two years ago, where the span was assembled next to the railway, before being driven into place on wheels to minimise the impact on rail passengers as much as possible."
Once complete, the replacement viaduct is expected to reopen to motorists and pedestrians in November 2027. The new structure will be 4.5 metres wider than its predecessor, creating additional space for cyclists and pedestrians while incorporating modern LED lighting within the bridge walkways.
HS2 and BBV have worked closely with Birmingham City Council, Transport for the West Midlands and National Express to maintain diversion routes and public transport connectivity throughout construction.
In addition, HS2 has provided Birmingham City Council with more than £2.5 million to support road safety improvements along the railway corridor. The funding must be allocated to local improvement projects by December 2026.
The successful installation of the first Saltley Viaduct span represents another visible step forward for HS2's construction programme in Birmingham, where several major rail and highway structures are now taking shape as the project moves towards delivery.
Image and video credits: HS2
