Main construction of a new “green” bridge to take both local traffic and wildlife over the High Speed 2 (HS2) railway near Kenilworth in Warwickshire has completed.

The Stoneleigh Road bridge features a dual carriageway along with two dedicated nature corridors to ensure safe passage for local fauna crossing the high-speed railway. It is one of 16 similar structures being developed as part of the HS2 project.

HS2 main works contractor Balfour Beatty Vinci (BBV) commenced piling work for the Stoneleigh Road bridge in October 2023, engaging a dedicated team of 50 construction workers at peak capacity.

Recently, work has focused on finalising the physical structure, which measures 33m long and 42m wide. A substantial concrete pour, involving 1,900m3 of material, was completed to form the bridge deck in late 2024. The team has since been making the finishing touches to the bridge, including the installation of 32 parapets.

With main construction of the bridge now finished, engineers are preparing to realign Stoneleigh Road over the bridge, alongside the development of a new roundabout that will connect to the entrance of Stoneleigh Business Park.

To enhance the area’s biodiversity, hedgerows and vegetation will be planted in 9m strips flanking the newly realigned road, creating habitats for birds, small mammals and insects.

The completion of the road realignment and the associated nature corridor landscaping is anticipated by autumn 2025, at which point traffic is expected to flow over the bridge.

Work will now turn to realigning Stoneleigh Road to run over the bridge

HS2 Ltd senior project manager Vicki Lee said: “A big thank you to everyone involved both onsite and behind the scenes as we reach this exciting next phase of Stoneleigh Road green bridge’s development, following a great deal of hard work.

“What makes Stoneleigh Road bridge special is the addition of valuable green space either side, meaning wildlife can safely pass over the high-speed railway line. Wherever possible, it’s important we integrate green measures and multifunctional design features, creating a railway that blends into the character of the surrounding landscape.”

BBV project manager George Shopland said: “We’ve recently completed a huge single-span deck pour on the Stoneleigh Road bridge and are finishing installing 32 parapets, each weighing nine tonnes. This is another significant achievement for the Balfour Beatty VINCI team.

“Completing this work means we’re entering the next exciting phase of construction, which includes realigning Stoneleigh Road over the top of the bridge and creating two green corridors on both sides of the carriageway.”

Visualisation of the completed green bridge with HS2 runnign beneath, and realigned Stoneleigh Road running on top to new roundabout

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