How HS2 moved a 4,500 tonne bridge across a road and railway line
Engineers have successfully completed the heaviest and longest single-stage viaduct deck slide on the HS2 project to date.
The four-day operation involved moving the massive 4,500-tonne deck across a road and railway line near Wendover, Buckinghamshire.
Spanning 345 meters, the Small Dean viaduct is one of 50 major viaducts being built for the HS2 high-speed rail project. Once finished, the new railway will enhance travel between the UK’s two largest cities and relieve congestion on the busiest southern section of the West Coast Main Line.
The concrete and steel deck of the viaduct was fully assembled before the slide began, with most of the precast concrete slabs already installed. This increased the weight of the deck but will save valuable time in the later stages of the project.
This operation marks the largest and longest single-stage viaduct deck slide on HS2 to date. Remarkably, the A413 was reopened nine hours ahead of schedule.
To reduce friction during the slide, special PTFE pads – similar to the material used in non-stick frying pans – were placed between the deck and the temporary steel bearings on the piers. A cable system then moved the deck forward at speeds of up to 10 meters per hour.
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