HS2 Completes First Viaduct Highfurlong Brook

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HS2 has reached a key milestone with the completion of the Highfurlong Brook Viaduct near Aston le Walls in Northamptonshire, marking the first finished viaduct of the project.

Spanning 163 meters, this viaduct is the first of more than 50 planned for HS2, setting the stage for the project’s continued expansion. The final structural element was put in place with the installation of the parapets along both sides, officially marking the viaduct as complete.

This achievement represents significant progress in the broader HS2 project, which will ultimately include around 500 bridging structures—ranging from small road bridges to massive viaducts such as the Colne Valley Viaduct.

The Highfurlong Brook Viaduct itself is composed of seven spans, each crossing the floodplain of Highfurlong Brook at a height of approximately 9 meters. Each span is formed by four beams, weighing up to 56 tonnes and measuring up to 25 meters in length. These beams were manufactured offsite and delivered overnight to minimize disruption to local traffic. Earlier this year, the viaduct’s deck, which will support the rail track and electrical systems, was poured in situ, while the parapets were prefabricated and installed over the past four months.

Construction of the viaduct took two years and was carried out by HS2’s main contractor EKFB, a consortium comprising Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction, and Bam Nuttall. The design was led by EKFB’s design partner ASC, working in collaboration with architects from Moxon.

This marks a major step forward for HS2, as the UK’s largest infrastructure project continues to develop.

Bill Price, HS2 Ltd’s Project Client  commented saying that:

“The completion of our first viaduct is a major moment for the HS2 project and I’d like to thank everyone in our integrated project team and supply chain partners who have worked so hard to get us where we are today.

“It’s great to see Highfurlong Brook finished and I look forward to seeing many more of our viaducts, bridges, stations and tunnels come together over the next few years.”

As the viaduct is now structurally complete, the next phase of construction will focus on delivering the earthworks to support the railway at either end of the viaduct.

A separate team of contractors will then install the rail systems, including track, signalling, power, and communications systems.

Scott Corsar, EKFB’s Project Manager said:
“We have achieved many ‘firsts’ with Highfurlong Viaduct, from the first viaduct to have its full deck installed to the first structurally complete viaduct on the HS2 programme following the recent installation of 136 parapets.

“This would not have been possible without the hard work, consistency and collaboration of everyone involved with the structure, from our designers down to our operatives out on site.”