The Anonymous Widower

First Massive ‘Lego Block’ Beams Lifted For HS2’s Pioneering Thame Valley Viaduct

The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from High Speed Two.

HS2 has begun lifting the first of 72 huge beams that will support the deck of the Thame Valley Viaduct – the first of its kind in the UK to have all major elements manufactured off site.

HS2 Bicester viaduct beam placement.

These paragraphs describe the building of the viaduct.

Engineers at the site near Aylesbury used two massive cranes to lift the beams – 25 metres long and weighing 90 tonnes each – into position on top of the viaduct piers, like giant Lego blocks.

Instead of using a more traditional approach, with multiple smaller beams for each span, the design team opted for a simple structural solution with just two larger hollow u-shaped beams per span, which allows for a lighter structure and simpler construction.

The lighter-weight design, inspired by viaducts on the Spanish high speed rail network, also reduces the amount of carbon-intensive concrete and steel in the structure – cutting its carbon footprint by around a third.

It doesn’t say, if they are using low-carbon concrete for the beams, but High Speed Two have used this material before.

November 1, 2023 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Concrete, Construction, High Speed Two, Offsite Construction