Project & Case Study Showcase
HS2 LIFTS FIRST HUGE BEAMS FOR BIRMINGHAM’ S CURZON STREET STATION
The construction of an enormous deck that will help support the platforms at Birmingham’ s new HS2 station has begun with the first of more than 556 concrete beams lifted into position.
The huge horizontal beams – up to 34 metres long and weighing as much as 58 tonnes – will support the seven platforms being built at Curzon Street station. Each one of the reinforced concrete beams is being precast offsite before being moved into position in a meticulously planned operation.
It underlines the scale of the progress being made on the station which will be covered by a huge arched roof the size of London’ s St Pancras International. In March, HS2 Ltd announced that all 2,011 concrete piles that form a key part of the station’ s foundations had been completed.
Once complete, the station will stretch for around 450 metres between Moor Street and Millennium Point with easy onward connections to the city centre, Digbeth and Eastside. A new tram stop will also be built under the station as part of the line currently under construction towards Digbeth and the site of Birmingham City’ s new football stadium.
Construction of the terminus is being led by HS2’ s construction partner, Mace Dragados, which is working with specialist subcontractors MPB to lift the concrete beams into place. This work is initially focused on the area where the tram will pass under the station, so it can be handed over to Midlands Metro Alliance to begin laying track as early as possible.
HS2 Ltd’ s Project Client for Curzon Street, Jonathan Berry said:“ We’ ve been making good progress with the construction of the station, but up to now, it’ s mostly been beneath the ground – focused on the piling and foundations that will underpin the building.
“ That’ s why it’ s great to see the first beams in position as we begin to assemble the enormous deck that will support our seven high speed platforms. Once complete, Curzon Street will become a new gateway to Birmingham, offering easy access to the city centre and connections to onward destinations, via tram, bus and rail, improving journeys and supporting growth across the West Midlands.”
For most of their length, Curzon Street’ s seven platforms will be built on a viaduct-like structure supported by 188 concrete piers. These will form a huge 13,370 square metre deck – the size of two football pitches- which will support part of the platforms and connect to the viaducts coming into the station from the east.
The beams – which are between 7 and 34 metres long and weigh
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