HS2 Colne Valley Viaduct

The last of 3 pairs of expansion piers joined up…as all of Dominique inches slowly onto dry land. The temporary support system technique doing its job as each segment can weigh up to 100 tonnes .
From memory with 2 piers done that leaves 10 more remaining and the finishing gantry for construction of the whole viaduct.

[@DaveFiggley]

It all happens very slowly but, nonetheless, is quite exciting. Yes, count them - 10 piers to go. I guessimated somewhere else that there are approximately 120/130 sections left to install. It would be interesting to see what happens up at the factory in the coming days. They seem to have 70/80 pieces sunbathing there at any time; ten or so queueing at the northern end of the viaduct and maybe 8, or so, parked along the viaduct at any given time. Great vid, QM ... keep 'em coming 👍

[@stevetony6876]

👍 It’ll be an interesting time when the last segment is produced up there at the viaduct factory!!

[@DaveFiggley]

@@stevetony6876 They'll probably do a sort of 'Dad dance' which SIMONC will capture for posterity.

[@Intercoaster]

The removal of all the temporary works alongside the viaduct structure and associated remediation will be a major project in its own right. I don't see any movement on this taking place which you'd think could be happening now.

[@stuartinns8438]

I don't fancy being near Dominique when it drives under those National Grid cables later in the year.

[@Paul_707]

The grid pylons have already been repositioned and the cables raised to allow for the gantry to pass.

[@StephenWalker42]

That next span must be the shortest in the Viaduct.... great to see the detail of the Dews Farm Piers...

[@stevetony6876]

Yes that’s an unusually short distance so perhaps it will be the next pier after that one that will complete the arch if the symmetry is to be maintained… Thanks for pointing that out. 👍👍

[@DaveFiggley]

According to the master plan, the service road for the HOAC is due to pass under there but I can't believe they'd space the piers to accommodate such a road. Public access to the canoes, kayaks etc is shown as being along what's left of Dews Lane, just as it was before. To be fair, if they can refurbish the bottom end of Dews Lane along the lines of what has been done withTilehouse Lane, the environmental carnage will be half-bearable. It won't bring back the historic (blue plaque) cottages though. Take a trip down memory lane, via G++gle Earth, to see what was lost in that area.

[@StephenWalker42]

I have a photo of a pier 8 sign on the pier next to the site access road at your 2.29 on the Harvil Road side...

[@stevetony6876]

Dews farm was around here sadly no more demolished several years ago as it was right in the viaducts path..

[@StephenWalker42]

@@stevetony6876 Oh yes, just had a look at the 1979 Pathfinder map TQ 08/18, Yes right in the way.....

[@rppacademic]

Will Labour stop selling places that have already been bought for HS2.