HS2 viaduct weighing 1,300 tonnes slides into place in Northants
The positioning of the viaduct deck is the latest in a series of major engineering projects to be completed for the new fast London to Birmingham rail link.It was assembled to one side of its final location and then slid into position.Five concrete pillars were constructed for the deck to sit on, with temporary steel bearings placed on top.Pads made from the non-stick compound PTFE were used to reduce friction between the deck and the bearings.The next part of the operation will involve lowering the deck by 60cm (24in) onto the permanent bearings
The deck is one of the 15 major viaducts being produced by HS2's main contractor, EKFB, and is the last of five being built using the sliding technique. HS2 said it would "help manage flood risk by ensuring that rainwater can continue to run off into existing watercourses".
HS2 Ltd's project manager, Sam Arrowsmith, said: "The slide may only have taken three days, but it was the culmination of four years of work – developing the design, completing the groundworks and the piers and assembling the enormous steelwork."
EKFB's technical director, Janice McKenna, said: "The philosophy was to design the viaducts with architectural input to 'blend' the structures into their respective landscapes and reduce the visual impact on the environment."The government announced last week that the 2033 deadline for completion of the London to Birmingham railway would be missed, but did not provide a new date.
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