Hs2 green tunnel segments have defects

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Issues have been found with the massive precast concrete segments being used to build a new HS2 “green tunnel” in Northamptonshire.

Nationaltradesmen.co.uk has learnt that tests are being performed on parts of the concrete in Chipping Warden Green Tunnel where work started earlier this year.

The segments of the 2.5m green tunnel, which is not yet finished, may have to be demolished if further investigations prove that the defects are serious.

The concrete segments are made by Stanton Precast in Ilkeston Derbyshire by a team made up of Eiffage, Ferrovial, Kier Construction and BAM Nuttall a group know as EKFB.

The HS2 Chipping Warden Green Tunnel was planned to fit in with an area of stunning countryside which will eventually consist of more than five thousand concrete tunnel segments before being covered by earth, with shrubs, trees, and hedgerows to fit in with the surrounding vegetation.

Hs2 are building a series of these tunnels with the same construction method of which Chipping Warden is the first, in all the tunnel has 5,020 segments will be steel reinforced, with the largest weighing up to 43 tonnes.

An HS2 spokesperson commented saying that: “Chipping Warden is the first of three green tunnels made of precast segments and it’s important that we take the time to get the quality assurance and installation process right.

“We have recently identified quality issues with some of the segments and we are currently conducting tests to determine whether remedial work is needed.

“No decision has been made yet and we are actively engaging with our supply chain partners to resolve the problem.”