HS2 engineers are preparing to begin a major reconstruction project in Saltley, northeast Birmingham, as part of work to bring high-speed rail services into the city.
Saltley Viaduct, which carries the B4114 over rail lines, the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal and the River Rea, will close to vehicles and pedestrians from 10 May 2026 ahead of a phased demolition and rebuild programme expected to last up to 18 months.
The existing 183-metre structure will be replaced with a new bridge two metres higher and four-and-a-half metres wider, creating space for the HS2 line beneath while also improving facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
The project is being delivered by HS2’s construction partner Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), with demolition and reconstruction taking place in four stages to minimise disruption to surrounding transport infrastructure.
Saltley Viaduct is the second major bridge project completed by HS2 in the area following the opening of the new Aston Church Road overbridge earlier this year, which will now form part of the diversion route during the works.
HS2 Ltd said it has worked closely with Birmingham City Council and Transport for West Midlands to establish diversion routes for motorists, pedestrians and public transport users. Some bus services will be rerouted, with temporary stops and additional services introduced during the closure.
Victoria Roberts, HS2’s Senior Engagement and Interface Lead for the West Midlands, said: “We thank local communities for their patience ahead of this next stage of construction works and ask people to familiarise themselves with the approved diversion routes that will be put in place.”
Ahead of the main works, a large network of utilities beneath the viaduct has already been diverted.
The first phase of demolition will affect rail services between Birmingham and Derby over two weekends in June, while engineers remove sections of the bridge above the railway. Further works over the canal section will require closures to narrowboat traffic and towpaths between 14 July and 17 August.
The new bridge deck will be installed using a combination of heavy lifting cranes and self-propelled modular transporters, allowing sections to be assembled off-site before being moved into position.
Dan Binns, Senior Project Manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI, described the scheme as a significant engineering challenge due to the confined urban environment and surrounding infrastructure.
Once complete, the rebuilt viaduct will feature wider walkways and upgraded lighting alongside the raised bridge deck required for the HS2 route.
