A team of 20 demolition experts from Solihull-based firm Armac Demolition has worked around the clock to remove a 4,000 tonne bridge over the M42 to make way for the HS2 railway.

The team used eight 50-tonne excavators and two 40-tonne excavators to remove the 40 metre long, 10 metre wide structure.

The two-span bridge was removed during a planned 42 hour closure of the motorway - although the works were completed 14 hours ahead of schedule.

Six articulated dumper trucks transported the excavated material to a local stockpile where it will be crushed and reused on HS2's haul roads and working areas.

Armac was working for HS2 contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) to complete the works near HS2's Interchange Station construction site at the NEC.

The bridge, which carried the A452 over the M42, was removed to allow for a new twin box structure to be constructed, which will carry the high speed line over the motorway in the future.

HS2 has built a new, road structure and roundabout which now carries the A452, and in future will also enable access to the new HS2 Interchange Station.

Ian Clarke, senior project manager at HS2 Ltd said: "This is another fantastic milestone for our civils team in the West Midlands, as construction of HS2 moves on at pace.

"The team did a brilliant job to get the demolition finished way ahead of schedule, meaning the motorway could be reopened much earlier than anticipated.

"In this region, over 9,750 people are working on the many complex and exciting feats of engineering to build HS2 over the existing network of roads, railways, rivers and canals - creating our new zero carbon railway to connect London, the Midlands and the North."

A team of 30 people worked 24/7 to remove the bridge (image via HS2)

Specialist Solihull-based firm Armac Demolition completed the M42 bridge demolition (image via HS2)



The bridge used to carry the A452 over the M42 (image via HS2)