HS2 Mixbury (A Future Bridge)

Flight Video

Additional Information

On October 20, 2022, EKFB (Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial, Bam Nuttall Joint Venture), a contractor for HS2 Ltd, initiated substantial excavation work in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire to prepare space for two of the most extensive cuttings along the high-speed rail route.

The first of these cuttings, spanning 4.1 kilometers from Barton Hartshorn to Mixbury near Brackley, will become the lengthiest cutting on the HS2 line. Over the next three years, approximately 1.3 million cubic meters of material will be removed to create an 11-meter deep trench that will eventually accommodate trains passing beneath six road, foot, and bridleway bridges.

In parallel, excavation has commenced for the Calvert cutting, which will extend over 3.4 kilometers, closely following the disused Great Central Railway's path. This cutting will traverse the Buckinghamshire villages of Calvert Green and Steeple Claydon and reach a depth of 9.7 meters, allowing the railway to pass beneath four road bridges and East West Rail. It will also feature additional width to accommodate local railway lines alongside the HS2 route in the future.

EKFB has also initiated excavation work for other significant cuttings at Turweston in Northamptonshire, Waddesdon in Buckinghamshire, and Ladbroke in South Warwickshire. In total, the first phase of HS2, connecting London and Birmingham, will encompass 70 cuttings.

Across the 80-kilometer section of the HS2 route through Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and West Northants, EKFB will need to transport approximately 36 million cubic meters of earth and rock over the next three years. Notably, nearly 99% of this material will be relocated within HS2 property using a dedicated network of haul roads to alleviate traffic congestion on public roads.

The material excavated from these sites, expected to consist of clay, sand, gravel, and limestone, will be repurposed elsewhere on the project, contributing to the creation of embankments, noise barriers, and landscaping. Utilizing on-site materials also plays a vital role in reducing the number of trucks on local roads.

Jonny flew here on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, reaching a maximum altitude of 231 ft (70 m) and there were no airspace restrictions in place at the time of the flight.