The first of 38 French-made steel beams for constructing the UK’s first ‘double composite’ structure viaduct has arrived at HS2’s Wendover Dean site in Buckinghamshire. Manufactured by Eiffage Metal, each 25m long steel beam will be transported on extra-long lorries with special traffic management teams.
The innovative design of the viaduct aims to create a lower carbon structure compared to traditional designs. Instead of solid pre-stressed concrete beams, the viaduct will use two steel beams sandwiched between layers of reinforced concrete. Thus, it will result in a lightweight and super strong hollow span.
The double composite approach increases strength, allowing engineers to save an estimated 7,433 tonnes of embodied carbon using less material. This reduction is equivalent to someone taking 20,500 return flights from London to Edinburgh.
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Construction of UK’s First ‘Double Composite’ Viaduct
Once all the beams have arrived at the site, they will be welded together to form the 450m-long viaduct. EKFB, the main works contractor for HS2, will weld the beams to create five 90m long spans. Pre-cast concrete sections will then be added to form slender box-like structures. They will be gradually pushed out onto the concrete piers later this year.
EKFB developed the ‘double composite’ approach in collaboration with design partner ASC and specialist architects Moxon. Inspired by structures on the French high-speed TGV network, the innovative design is set to revolutionize viaduct construction in the UK.
James Collings, Senior Engineer at EKFB, expressed the team’s excitement about reaching this construction milestone. As the viaduct starts to take shape above ground, he emphasized the tremendous effort put into the project and the team’s preparations for the bridge deck launch. The arrival of the steel beams marks a significant step forward in constructing the viaduct, which will be a landmark structure and a testament to sustainable engineering practices.
