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Construction of mile-long HS2 tunnel is completed ahead of rail systems installation

Inside HS2's Long Itchington Wood Tunnel. HS2 LTD.

Construction of a one-mile-long HS2 tunnel in Warwickshire has been completed.

The twin-bore Long Itchington Wood Tunnel will now be fitted out with rail systems after the concrete finishing works, base slabs, three cross passages and walkways for emergencies and maintenance were finished.

It’s the first of five twin-bore tunnels on the route to reach this stage after excavation started in June 2020 where 380 people have supported the work.

Doug Barnett, Senior Project Manager for HS2 Ltd, said: “It’s a small part of HS2 but it’s been four and a half years of my life in which I’ve seen this construction go from its very embers to nearing completion – a really proud moment for me personally.

“Long Itchington Wood Tunnel is a tremendous feat of engineering and would not have been possible without a huge amount of continuous work put in over the past five years – I’d like to thank everyone involved working both onsite and behind the scenes for their support.”

A total of 1,582 concrete rings have been used in both bores. Each is made from eight two-metre-wide segments weighing up to eight tonnes.

Once complete 27.4 miles of HS2 will be in tunnels such as Long Itchington.



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