A host of road and rail closures are scheduled this summer as work on the controversial HS2 line intensifies across Warwickshire. Phase 1 of the high-speed route sweeps right the way through east and central Warwickshire and just south of Coventry on its way from London Euston to the Interchange Station in Solihull and Curzon Street Station in Birmingham.
Phase 2b will move in a north-easterly direction past Kingsbury, where a huge compound has been built, and continue north past Middleton, where it will leave Warwickshire on its way to East Midlands Parkway. The remainder of the eastern leg up to Leeds was scrapped in November 2021 with the government citing rising costs as the main reason.
Few counties have been as heavily affected as Warwickshire, where a number of large construction projects are taking place to accommodate the line. As a result, key roads have been closed and more of the same is planned this summer and autumn.
READ MORE: New era on horizon for Kenilworth businesses as prominent building hits market
Dalehouse Lane in Kenilworth will close between September 11 and December 1. Phase one of the closure will run from September 11 to October 6, with phase two running between November 6 and December 1.
"We will be carrying out temporary utility diversion and connection works to facilitate the construction of the new overbridge," HS2 says. "To ensure public safety and for the works to be carried out safely, a full road closure will be in place for 24 hours for the duration of the works."
Coventry Road near Cubbington will close from July 24 until August 18 for BT cable diversions and there will also be some rail disruption with the Coventry to Leamington Spa railway line due to close for eight days. The closure will start at midnight on July 29 and end at 8.30am on August 7.
An overbridge will be built to allow the HS2 railway to pass under the existing Coventry to Leamington railway. As part of this work, coordinated with Network Rail, engineers will:
• Remove the existing signals, railway tracks and excavate the embankment.
• Use specialist transport vehicles to lift and install the new bridge into place.
• Reconstruct the embankment. Install drainage, rail, ballast and sleepers. Check track alignment.
• Reinstate track/signal furniture.
• Survey the bridge and re-open the railway.
A number of other road closures, affecting Ladbroke, near Southam, and Water Orton, are listed on the HS2 in Warwickshire webpage.
Sign up to the daily newsletter for all the latest Warwickshire news stories.
