HS2 update: Suspension of majority of sites

HS2 has confirmed that the majority of its sites have paused or are pausing construction works to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The news comes after Crossrail said it was bringing all project sites to a temporary safe stop unless they need to continue for operational reasons.

HS2 has outlined to railbusinessdaily.com the situation for the projects. There may be some short-term work that needs to be carried out at some sites in order to ensure they are in a safe position to pause works.

It also says the necessary security will be maintained at each of the sites, which is vital to ensuring it upholds health and safety commitments.

Phase One Enabling Works and Civil Contractors

• Paused: Euston Tunnels and Approaches – CSJV (Costain Ltd, STRABAG AG) and SCS JV (Skanska Construction UK Ltd, Costain Ltd, STRABAG AG)
• Paused: Northolt Tunnels – CSJV and SCS JV
• Paused: Chiltern Tunnels and Colne Valley Viaduct – Align JV (Bouygues Travaux Publics, VolkerFitzpatrick, Sir Robert McAlpine)
• Paused: North Portal Chiltern Tunnels to Brackley – Fusion JV (BAM Nuttall, Morgan Sindall and Ferrovial) and EK JV (Eiffage Genie Civil SA, Kier Infrastructure and Overseas Ltd)
• Paused: Brackley to South Portal of Long Itchington Wood Green Tunnel – EK JV
• Operational but under review: Long Itchington Wood Green Tunnel to Delta Junction and Birmingham Spur – LM JV (Laing O’Rourke, Murphy) and BBV JV (Balfour Beatty Group Ltd, VINCI Construction Grands Projets, VINCI Construction UK Ltd, VINCI Construction Terrassement)
• Operational but under review: Delta Junction to WCML Tie-In – LM JV and BBV JV

All contractors on Phase 2a have paused activity.

An HS2 spokesperson said: “To ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce and the communities in which we are working, only construction sites that can maintain Government guidelines and are critical to the delivery of HS2 will remain operational.

“As a result, the majority of our sites have paused or are pausing construction works. Those sites still working are doing so because they are confident they are operating within PHE guidelines, and will be monitored and remain under constant review.”

Photo credit: HS2 Ltd

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