The UK's incredible bridge that will be part of massive new £100bn train line
A 99m-wide "green bridge" is currently being built near the village of Turweston in Northamptonshire and will cross over the high-speed railway near Brackley.
The construction of the UK’s newest high-speed railway is well underway, with a key feature being a 99m wide "green bridge". HS2 was originally planned to connect London with Birmingham, Manchester, East Midlands Parkway, Leeds and York.
But last year in October, ex-Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak confirmed that HS2 would only run from London to the West Midlands.
As of 2023, £27 billion has been spent for the building of the inter-city rail network. This massive infrastructure initiative has been projected to cost £100bn in total.
Still a big part of the plans, HS2 has revealed the project will oversee the construction of the largest “green bridge”, which will cross the high-speed railway near Brackley.
The 99m-wide bridge is designed to take a local road over the new railway line, near the village of Turweston in Northamptonshire.
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It is planned to stretch for 1.5 miles past the village of Turweston on the edge of Buckinghamshire and West Northamptonshire.
New hedgerows and vegetation will be planted on top to create a space for wildlife and it will feature a footpath and bridleway.
A total of 16 green bridges will be built along the £100bn line, with the majority carrying a combination of local roads, footpaths and farm access routes.
Five green tunnels are also being built along the route, including the 1.7-mile (2.7km) Greatworth Tunnel in south Northamptonshire.
Together they will help create 33 square kilometres of new wildlife habitats alongside the railway, including 7 million new trees and shrubs.The new bridge near Turweston will be supported by thirty-six steel beams, with pre-cast concrete slabs forming the deck.
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According to HS2 Ltd, the team were able to cut the structure’s carbon footprint by 42% during the design process.
Elizabeth Longinotti, HS2 Ltd’s Senior Project Manager, said: “Green bridges are still rare in the UK and just one example of how HS2 is leading the way in terms of innovation and environmental protection.
The bridge at Turweston will help keep communities connected, while supporting wildlife and biodiversity on either side of the railway.”
She shared that while HS2 “will deliver faster, more reliable journeys between London and Birmingham” as well as free up space on the existing mainline for local trains, it was important that they delivered on their “environmental commitments” when constructing Turweston’s green bridge.
The railway works are projected to finish between 2029 and 2033.
