en.Wedoany.com Report on Mar 28th, The west deck of the M6 South Viaduct for the UK's HS2 high-speed rail project is being assembled near Chelmsley Wood. This work is being carried out by Balfour Beatty Vinci (BBV) and is planned to be completed in four segments in preparation for the upcoming launch installation.
The first 107-meter-long deck section is expected to be slid into its designated position above the southbound slip road of M6 Junction 4 next month. The construction team will use specialized hydraulic jacks to push the 1,250-ton steel structure across a 102-meter span onto the concrete piers.
Once installed, the west deck will run parallel to the 320-meter-long east deck. The east deck was successfully launched in three stages over the M6 last year, with its final phase installation marking the first time in the UK such an operation was conducted while traffic continued to flow, providing a valuable reference for the current project.
Balfour Beatty Vinci engineer Russel Luckhurt stated: "Building on the successful installation of the east deck viaduct last year, we are preparing for the first launch of the adjacent west deck in April. We are employing the same sliding technique, where giant hydraulic jacks will push the viaduct across the motorway in multiple stages this year. The previous launch provided the team with invaluable experience, and they are eager to apply these learnings to the future work on this striking structure spanning the M6."
Compared to the east deck, the west deck requires an additional assembly stage. Due to space constraints, the staggered arrangement of the piers, and the curve of the adjacent loop road, the launch platform is shorter. Consequently, the structure must be built in four smaller segments before being slid into position.
The installation of the M6 South Viaduct is being carried out in four phases. Phase one is planned for April 11-12, 2026, which will require the closure of the M6 J4 southbound exit. Phase two is scheduled for June 13, 2026, and will not require a closure. Phases three and four are planned for August and October or November, subject to approval. The entire launch process aims to ensure the smooth progress of the HS2 project.
