VolkerStevin marks major milestone in Colne Valley Viaduct Project

This marks a major achievement for the team, contributing to the progress of the HS2 project.

The Colne Valley Viaduct, currently under construction by the Align joint venture, will be the UK’s longest railway bridge, stretching over 3.4km (2 miles) across lakes and waterways to the northwest of London serving as a critical link in the high-speed rail line connecting London and the West Midlands.

VolkerStevin’s role in the project was to construct four 10-meter-wide double carriageway jetty structures, providing essential access across the water for equipment, materials, and personnel. These jetties, with a total length of 990 meters, were constructed of 326 tubular piles and proved essential in accessing previously unreachable areas during construction.

The removal of these temporary jetties began in May 2024, and after just seven months, the entire process was completed successfully and safely. During this time, the team removed 773 precast concrete planks and approximately 3,000 tonnes of steel. The innovative approach used a specially adapted 90-tonne long-reach excavator, which safely lifted materials from beneath the viaduct, even in challenging conditions with limited headroom.

Thanks to this tailored method, the project not only met its goals with remarkable efficiency but also saved nearly three months on the programme compared to the original timeline. This achievement contributes to bringing the vision of a world-class high-speed rail closer to reality.

With this vital step now complete, the team at VolkerStevin has played a pivotal role in delivering a significant part of a record-breaking railway project, demonstrating their ability to deliver innovative solutions in challenging conditions.