HS2 opens twin Warwickshire cycle and road bridges
posted on 29th Oct 2025 09:58
HS2 has opened two bridges near Leamington Spa carrying a key local road and a long-distance cycle track across the new high-speed railway. The Fosse Way bridge carries the B4455 across the railway near the village of Offchurch outside Leamington. It follows the route of a roman road between Exeter and Lincoln and is now used by local traffic between the villages around Leamington and Coventry.
It was opened several days after the nearby Offchurch Greenway bridge, which carries the popular walking and cycle path between Leamington and Rugby. The Greenway itself runs along the route of an abandoned railway line. With the new bridges open, HS2’s contractors can begin the job of demolishing the old section of the road to make way for the cutting which will carry the new railway.
Both bridges were delivered by HS2’s main works contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI and are formed of precast beams sitting on concrete piers. Balfour Beatty VINCI worked with sub-contractor Galldris on the Foss Way while the Greenway was self-delivered.
The Foss Way bridge is 78 m long and 14 m wide, to provide space for a pavement alongside the road. The Greenway bridge is 68 m long and 22 m wide and will have grass verges planted on either side of the shared path to help wildlife cross the railway.
After crossing HS2, the Greenway currently crosses the B4455 at ground level before continuing towards Rugby. This crossing will also be replaced next year with a new bridge, to keep cyclists and walkers away from passing traffic. A total of four major bridges have been completed in this part of Warwickshire in 2025, following the delivery of Welsh Road Underbridge, which was opened to traffic in February, and the A46 box structure, which completed in April.
There are more than 200 bridges on the HS2 project, ranging from foot and cycle bridges and wildlife-friendly ‘green bridges’, through to enormous viaducts like the Colne Valley – the longest railway bridge in the UK.