HS2 is proposing to add a tunnel beneath the M6 Bromford Viaduct to its Phase Two route map to avoid “major remodelling” of the road network around Birmingham.
The West Midlands tunnel is the latest in a series of amendments to the recommended HS2 corridor. Changes include abandoning a complete redevelopment of Euston station and including new tunnels beneath Northolt and Ealing in London and East Midlands Airport.
HS2 is to recommend a tunnel between Castle Bromwich Business Park to the eastern edge of Washwood Heath, to replace the original plan for a surface line, after realising that the original design would cause a huge amount of disruption because of the necessary alterations to the surrounding road network and relocation of the River Tame.
HS2 Ltd chief executive Alison Munro said: “Following a review of the alternatives a tunnel design was considered to be the preferred option as it proved to be less complex in engineering terms and would avoid the loss of local community facilities including the local schools’ playing fields and social clubs including Bromford Residents’ Club and Bromford Neighbourhood Office.”
