HS2 Installs Offchurch Greenway Cycle Bridge Warwickshire

WARWICKSHIRE, UK – HS2’s construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), will install the new Offchurch Greenway Cycle Bridge by lifting it into position during a road closure ending 26 April 2026. The bridge, which began construction in July 2025, is the third local connectivity structure completed by BBV in the area. The project is scheduled for full opening to the public in September 2026.

What Is the Full Scope of This Project?

The project involves the construction and installation of a new steel fabricated bridge to carry National Cycle Route 41 over the B4455 Fosse Way. This structure is the final component of a three-bridge programme designed to mitigate the impact of the high-speed railway and improve local connectivity, complementing the Fosse Way and Offchurch Greenway bridges which opened in October 2025. The bridge deck was manufactured by Britons Steel Fabricators in Nottinghamshire, with specialist coatings applied by Jack Tighe Coatings Ltd in South Yorkshire.

Key Project Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Projects?

The delivery of this ancillary infrastructure years ahead of the main HS2 line’s operation contrasts with the delivery strategy of other major UK rail projects like East West Rail. While HS2 focuses on completing local mitigation and enhancement projects like this bridge cluster to maintain community support, the East West Rail project has received support for a phased opening of the main railway sections to accelerate housing development and bring passenger services online sooner (Source: Construction News, 2026). This highlights two different strategic approaches to managing the long-term construction timeline of major national infrastructure. The HS2 approach prioritises completing enabling and legacy works early in the programme, whereas the East West Rail model prioritises incremental operational benefits.

Editor’s Analysis

The focus on completing non-operational, community-facing infrastructure like the Offchurch bridge cluster is a strategic move by HS2 to manage local stakeholder relations and deliver tangible local benefits long before trains run. This ‘goodwill’ investment is critical for projects with extended timelines and significant local disruption. It reflects a broader trend where major infrastructure projects are increasingly judged not just on final delivery, but on their construction-phase mitigation and legacy benefits, a factor gaining importance amid rising investment in large-scale transport infrastructure (Source: PitchBook, 2026).

FAQ

Q: What is the purpose of the new Offchurch cycle bridge?
A: The bridge will carry National Cycle Route 41 over the B4455 Fosse Way, separating cyclists and walkers from road traffic. It is the last of three local bridges built by HS2’s partner Balfour Beatty VINCI to improve safety and local connectivity.

Q: When will the new bridge be open to the public?
A: The bridge deck is being installed in April 2026, with finishing works like landscaping and tarmac to follow. The new bridge is forecast to officially open for public use in September 2026.

Q: Is this bridge part of the main HS2 railway line?
A: No, this is an ancillary infrastructure project. It is designed to carry a local cycle path over a road near the HS2 line, not to carry the high-speed trains themselves.