A huge HS2 milestone has been reached to allow the continued construction as works to redirect a river in Warwickshire have been completed. The company behind the high-speed rail project has “realigned” 749m (2,457ft) of the River Cole near Coleshill, the most significant realignment of a natural river on the project.
To do this a section of the river needed to be permanently realigned to support the construction of two new viaducts and a series of railway embankments. Bosses say the works will improve the existing river environment by creating more meander bends and enhancing habitats in the river and along its banks to maximise biodiversity. Ever since excavation works were completed in 2024 teams have been monitoring how the new watercourse is establishing itself in flow, river shape and habitat characteristics.
When the area is reopened to the public, locals will be able to enjoy new public spaces including grassed embankments, footpaths, observation areas and Japanese style stepping stones over water features.
The realignment project was designed by HS2’s Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture and delivered by ecologists and engineers working for HS2’s construction partner Balfour Beatty VINCI.
Simon Casey, HS2 Ltd’s Head of Environment for Main Works Civils said “it’s incredibly exciting to see what the team has achieved” with HS2 aiming to “create solutions” as “climate change continues to pose challenges”.
He added: “It is part of our wider Green Corridor programme and will create a valuable learning legacy for the civil engineering profession, providing a replicable model for future projects.”
The two River Cole viaducts, which will span the waterway, are due to be completed later this year.
The £80bn high speed line between London and Birmingham has been hit by an onslaught of delays, phase one was initially planned to open by the end of 2026.
This was later pushed back to between 2029 and 2033 but Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said earlier this month there was “no route” to meeting that timeframe.
The final bill for the first phase of the 225mph railway could reach £80billion at current prices, it emerged in December last year.
In 2013, HS2 was estimated to cost £37.5 billion (at 2009 prices) for the entire planned network, including the now-scrapped extensions from Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds.
The design speed for HS2 tracks is 400km/h (250mph), and the trains will have a maximum speed of 360km/h (225mph).
