HS2 has completed the installation of its second viaduct over the M6 near Chelmsley Wood, marking a significant milestone in high-speed rail construction. The 4,750-tonne steel structure was moved into position using hydraulic jacks, with traffic continuing beneath the motorway throughout the operation.
HS2 M6 Viaducts Reach Structural Completion
The final section of the west viaduct was successfully installed on Saturday, 24 October 2026. The milestone means both M6 South viaducts are now structurally complete, creating the infrastructure needed for high-speed trains to cross one of the UK’s busiest motorways.
The east viaduct, completed in 2025, will carry trains towards HS2’s planned London stations at Old Oak Common and Euston. The west viaduct will serve trains travelling towards Curzon Street Station in Birmingham city centre and destinations further north, including Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.
Both structures measure 320 metres in length and run parallel to one another, separated by just 100 millimetres. Built using weathering steel and supported by concrete piers, the viaducts will form part of HS2’s route through the Midlands.
Engineering the M6 Viaduct Without Closing the Motorway
The HS2 M6 viaduct installation used a carefully controlled launching process. Engineers added steel sections to the rear of the structure before using strand jacks to move the deck forwards in stages.
The west deck was launched in four stages, while the east deck was installed in three. This approach enabled engineers to position the structures above the motorway while maintaining traffic flows.
The final launch took just nine hours, during which the west deck advanced 76 metres at an average speed of 12 metres per hour. The M6 remained open to motorists throughout the weekend, although the M42 M6 link road was temporarily closed to establish a safety exclusion zone.
The link road reopened at 9pm on Saturday, 24 October, 25 hours ahead of schedule.
What’s Next for HS2 Construction in the Midlands?
The completion of the M6 viaducts marks further progress in HS2’s wider programme of major infrastructure projects across the Midlands. Construction teams continue to deliver the bridges, viaducts and other structures required to carry the high-speed railway through the region.
Some planned work at the Water Orton viaduct above the M42 was postponed because of strong winds at the weekend. The parapet installation programme has been rescheduled for the following weekend, with planned motorway closures between 9pm on Friday, 30 October, and 5am on Monday, 2 November 2026.
Looking ahead to 2027, HS2’s motorway construction programme is expected to focus on the triple box near Coleshill. This rail-over-road structure will carry four HS2 railway tracks over the M42, with the construction schedule being coordinated with National Highways.
The completion of the HS2 M6 viaducts represents another step towards delivering the infrastructure needed for the high-speed rail route through the Midlands.
Source: HS2 Media Centre.
Image: HS2 Media Centre.