Closures and roadworks have been announced for the M42 and M6 in Warwickshire this summer as HS2 gets ready to "shift up a gear".

Works will start in June and will see three huge structures built over busy sections of the motorways

In one operation, a twin box will be built above both carriageways of the M42 near Birmingham Business Park – allowing the railway to be constructed over the top.

Additionally, two single-track viaducts will be extended over the M42/M6 Toll near Water Orton, and a twin-track viaduct will be installed over the M6 near Chelmsley Wood.

HS2 said it has spent a year planning the crossings.

There were originally due to be nine closures over six months. This has now been reduced to six as the works will take place on the same weekends.

Junction closures will only take place from 9pm on Friday evenings through to 5am on Monday mornings.

The M42 overhead works begin on the evening of Friday, 26 June 2026, with the installation of the roof deck for the twin box.

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This 300-metre-long structure will allow the high-speed line to be built over the M42. Once complete, vehicles will drive through the box, while trains travel above.

The roof deck will be constructed over four weekend closures, allowing engineers to install 175 individual beams, each weighing between 56 and 92-tonnes.

At the same time, engineers in nearby Water Orton are preparing to extend two single-track viaducts that will carry high-speed trains into Birmingham Curzon Street and the rolling stock depot at Washwood Heath.

Already circa 1,200 metres long, the team will use a different construction technique to build the remaining 135-metre sections of the Water Orton 1 and 2 viaducts that will bridge the gap between the piers either side of the motorway.

This programme of work will commence at 9pm on Friday, 24 July 2026.

The final construction challenge – the installation of the M6 South Viaduct West – requires just one weekend motorway closure, as two stages of the fully restrained slide process will take place over live traffic, eliminating the need to close the carriageway.

The single weekend closure will commence at 9pm on Friday, 21 August 2026.