Drone footage has shown the extent of the HS2 works around Burton Green.

Contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI is powering ahead with the new 'cut and cover' tunnel at Cromwell Lane, which was fully signed off by district planners last year.

The high speed rail developer will eventually build a 690-metre structure which will be masked by new trees to "integrate seamlessly with the existing landscape".

Various design options for the tunnel were considered, including creating a bored tunnel like the one being built in Long Itchington.

But the plans for Burton Green state that a bored tunnel would have been more expensive and would have led to "limited environmental improvement" in the long term.

The southern tunnel portal in Burton Green (image via HS2)

Traffic lights are in place either side of the new bridge on Cromwell Lane (image by James Smith)

Work to create the portal at the southern end of the tunnel were completed last year, and saw a small stream diverted.

Over 160 roof segments were installed as part of the 200-metre long concrete portal to the south, with each segment weighing over 20 tonnes.

The portal features a series of vents in the roof which transition with HS2 trains leaving and entering the tunnel. The pressured air wave produced by the 'piston effect' of the train moving through the tunnel will be channelled through the vents.

The extent of the works can all be seen in the video, which has been published on the YouTube account HS2 Sky View Warwickshire.

The cut and cover tunnel will eventually see the existing underpass widened and deepened and a 1,082-metre retaining structure built.

A new overbridge will be built for Waste Lane, with a separate set of plans for this to be submitted.

The footage also shows the temporary realignment of Cromwell Road, which was completed last year.

The old Cromwell Lane bridge will be demolished during the construction of the tunnel. Once complete the bridge will be rebuilt, slightly higher.

A new underpass will also be cut below Cromwell Lane so the realigned Kenilworth Greenway can pass under the road.

In its winter 2023 update HS2 said it will continue to excavate in the area for the tunnel.

HS2 will also be "delivering piling works for the Burton Green Tunnel and retaining structure".

The new bridge is set to be in place for 23 months (image by James Smith)

The tunnel portal in Burton Green (image via HS2)