HS2 welcomes planning approval for the bridge set to light up the Birmingham skyline

On 24 May 2023 HS2 Ltd has received Schedule 17 approval for a 150-metre section of viaduct carrying trains into Birmingham’s new Curzon Street Station, including a 25-metre-high truss which will create a new icon on the city’s skyline. Birmingham City Council have approved the design of the Curzon No. 2 viaduct, which is the tallest structure in the sequence of viaducts and structures that make up the Curzon Street Approaches taking HS2 trains into Birmingham.

The bridge consists of a gently curved truss in weathering steel which carries HS2 over the Victorian brick rail viaduct below, and which will reach 40 m into the air, resting at least 17 m above the ground. The bridge will carry three parallel high speed rail tracks over the existing east-west rail line. Closer to Curzon Street, the tracks will split further to serve the seven platforms being built at the station.

A major light artwork by British artist Liz West, will introduce a dynamic colour palette to the apertures of the steel truss, framing views of the city. Titled “Out of the Blue”, the artwork will establish the bridge as a stunning feature of the city’s landscape at night, when the artwork will come to life. The Council has asked HS2 to develop the proposals detailed in the art strategy to enable a separate Schedule 17 submission.

The truss bridge is light but strong, composed of connected elements that form triangular units, and constructed using a relatively small amount of material. It has been designed to ‘wrap’ around the viaduct, extending the bottom of the steel to wrap underneath the viaduct deck and forming a visual connection to the steel girders of the adjacent structures. The nodes where the diagonal members meet will have curved corners to provide longevity to the steelwork whilst softening the silhouette of the bridge.

HS2 trains will cross the truss bridge to leave the city towards HS2’s Washwood Heath Depot. This site, located northeast of Birmingham City Centre, will maintain, service, and store HS2 trains when not in use, generating over 500 long-term jobs for local people.