{"id":30355,"date":"2025-05-09T05:44:11","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T12:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/breakthrough-for-hs2-as-first-birmingham-tunnel-section-dug\/"},"modified":"2025-05-09T05:44:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T12:44:11","slug":"breakthrough-for-hs2-as-first-birmingham-tunnel-section-dug","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/breakthrough-for-hs2-as-first-birmingham-tunnel-section-dug\/","title":{"rendered":"Breakthrough for HS2 as first Birmingham tunnel section dug"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Giant tunnel boring machine Mary Ann smashed through at Washwood Heath today, marking the end of a 652-day drive beneath the M6, River Tame, and critical National Grid infrastructure \u2013 all completed without disruption.<\/p>\n

The 125m-long TBM was launched in July 2023 by Balfour Beatty Vinci.<\/p>\n

Its crew of 450 specialist tunnellers worked around the clock to steer the 1,600-tonne machine through complex ground conditions at depths of up to 40m.<\/p>\n

At peak, Mary Ann advanced 30m per day, installing nearly 3,000 concrete rings made up of segments cast at BBV\u2019s Avonmouth factory.<\/p>\n

BBV tunnelling director Jules Arlaud said: \u201cIt\u2019s been a challenging drive beneath critical live infrastructure. I\u2019m incredibly proud of our entire team, whose dedication made this possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Around one million tonnes of spoil has been reused on HS2\u2019s Delta Junction viaduct complex, helping cut lorry movements via dedicated haul roads.<\/p>\n

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HS2 CEO Mark Wild stands in front of the TBM Mary Ann at breakthrough in Birmingham<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

HS2 chief executive Mark Wild said: \u201cToday\u2019s breakthrough is a significant milestone for the project. Washwood Heath is set to become one of the most important sites on the entire HS2 network.\u201d<\/p>\n

The site will house HS2\u2019s train depot and Network Integrated Control Centre. It\u2019s also at the heart of a wider \u00a310bn wave of regeneration and investment across the West Midlands.<\/p>\n

More than 10,000 people in the region are now working on HS2, including 710 apprentices and 1,870 previously unemployed recruits. Over 400 local businesses are supplying the project.<\/p>\n

Second TBM Elizabeth is now advancing through the parallel bore, due to complete later this year.<\/p>\n

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Tunnelling team at work<\/h3>\n
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Steve Rocke on his final tunnelling mission before retirement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Tunnelling apprentice Jevon Lynch from Birmingham<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Gavin \u2018Big Gav\u2019 Davis at the wheel of the electric delivery vehicle inside the tunnel<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Gary Jones, Ringbuilder<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Family tunnellers: Father and son Greg and Dylan Kehoe<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Josh Knight pictured inside the decompression chamber<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Jules Arlaud, BBV\u2019s Tunnelling Director<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Pilot Harsh, skilfully navigates the tunnel boring machine under the River Tame<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Glenn Race, PLC Technician, works alongside the pilot to keep the TBM running<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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