HS2 Set To Start Permanent Construction Of Victoria Road Crossover Box
posted on 25th Jan 2021 12:08
HS2 have completed sheet piling work by contractors Skanska Costain STRABAG Railways Joint Venture (SCS Railways) in Acton, West London, to enable the construction of the Victoria Road Crossover Box.
The installation of 200 m of sheet piling was the final piece of enabling work before permanent works can begin. The site team completed the work ensuring that vital utilities in the area, including a Thames Water Main and UK Power Network cables were unaffected.
The Victoria Road Crossover Box site is located to the west of where the new superhub HS2 Old Oak Common station is being constructed. The huge underground box structure being built will house a crossover track mechanism that will allow trains to switch between tracks, up to a design speed of 100 km/h, on the approach and descent from Old Oak Common station.
The box will be 130 m in length and 24 m deep complete with 1.5 m thick walls constructed by diaphragm piling method, with top and intermediate levels of reinforced concrete props. The base slab of the crossover box will be supported is supported by 77 piles which will be installed 20 m into the ground below the slab level. The crossover box will have a volume of 131,820 m3, the structure will use 3,700 tonnes of reinforcement, and the piles are 44 m long.
The site at Victoria Road is also currently being prepared to launch the Northolt Tunnel Boring Machines which will bore 5.5 km North West, as part of the construction of HS2’s 13.5 km Northolt Tunnel. The site will also be home to the Victoria Road Ancillary Shaft which will provide ventilation and emergency access to the rail line during operation. The shaft will have an internal diameter of 25 m and will be constructed using pre cast rings at the top, and using a sprayed concrete lining technique at the bottom.
HS2 Ltd, and its main works contractors, begun main works construction of the new high speed railway after being given the green light from the Prime Minister in April 2020. To date over 3,400 people are working across London on the project.