HS2 has been given the green light for a 78-metre-long bridge to carry Crackley Lane over the new rail line.

The HS2 Act decreed the bridge would happen at some point, but now aspects of the design have been signed off.

Crackley Lane will be diverted near the junction with Cryfield Grange Road as part of the works, which will see the road carried over a new cutting.

Plans show the bridge would be 5.5 metres wide and have three spans.

A map outlining the proposed bridge (image via planning application)

"The overbridge structure will carry the realigned Crackley Lane over the new HS2 line and will travel over the proposed Roughknowles Wood Cutting (to be consented separately)," the application said.

It added: "The proposed overbridge structure is a 78m long span steel-composite bridge structure which will cross the new HS2 line approximately 200m north of the junction between Crackley Lane and Blind Lane and 150m to the south of the junction between Cryfield Grange Road and Crackley Lane."

As part of the application progress, HS2 received an objection from Warwickshire County Council's landscape team, saying it is a "missed opportunity".

"The written statement states that there is no requirement for the overbridge to be a 'green bridge'," the objection said.

"This seems a missed opportunity to fully reinstate the green corridor that characterised Crackley Lane, and to ensure connectivity between the significant habitats in the area.

"There is no visual screening provided in the south west of the asset.

"This is likely to affect road users on Blind Lane, and Crackley Lane, approaching the asset from the south. It is also likely to affect receptors from the Right of Way to the west."

See the full plans here.