Concrete work completed on HS2’s Long Itchington Tunnel
The civil engineering phase of HS2’s Long Itchington Wood Tunnel in Warwickshire is now complete, with significant concrete elements forming the backbone of the twin-bore structure.
The 1.6 km-long tunnel, which will carry high-speed trains into the West Midlands, is lined with 1,582 concrete rings. Each ring consists of eight precast segments, each weighing up to 8 tonnes. These segments were installed as excavation progressed, reinforcing the tunnel walls.
Jules Arlaud, tunnelling director at HS2’s main contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), said: “Our expert tunnelling team has worked tirelessly to install the concrete lining, along with base slabs and walkways, ensuring the tunnel is structurally sound and ready for the next phase.”
Concrete also plays a key role in the three cross passages, which connect the two tunnel bores for emergency access. The finishing works included casting reinforced concrete slabs along the tunnel base and installing prefabricated concrete walkway sections for maintenance and evacuation routes.
The tunnel boring machine, named ‘Dorothy,’ excavated 750,000 tonnes of material, which has since been repurposed for embankments along the route. Concrete production and placement were carefully managed to meet durability and performance requirements while minimising environmental impact.
With the structural work now in place, the next phase will involve fitting out the tunnel with railway systems, including track, power, and signalling. The project is part of a wider programme of HS2 tunnel construction, with similar concrete structures being built in Birmingham, the Chiltern Hills, Northolt, and Euston.
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