Edgcott Road: 112-Metre Road Bridge

The Osprey CC-3800 crawler crane was deployed with a 54-metre lattice boom and 180-tonne super lift counterweight to provide contract lift services at Edgcott Road on bridges to maintain local-residents’ access.

The 112-metre-long structure at Edgcott Road will span both the HS2 high-speed rail line and a disused freight line, which could be reinstated and upgraded in the future to accommodate local passenger trains.

The project marks a significant milestone, replacing a key local road bridge. Osprey was contracted to deploy the CC-3800 crane, with a lifting capacity of 650 tonnes, to lift nine enormous steel beams that will form the main structure of the new bridge.

Constructed from weathering steel, the beams naturally russet brown in colour, were welded together on site to form the main span of the bridge, which was lifted in six large sections. Supporting these beams are two 6.8-metre-high concrete piers and abutments on either side. The steel beams, weighing a total of 610 tonnes, will support a reinforced concrete deck, which will carry local traffic between Quainton and Calvert.

Osprey has adapted to the constantly evolving nature of HS2 construction sites, ensuring that operations align seamlessly with site-specific rules and conditions. Each site, whether it’s a civil project or temporary setup with cabins and fencing, requires flexibility as it changes daily with the progress of the project. Osprey’s comprehensive management system, grounded in robust Quality, Health, Safety, and Environmental (QHSE) protocols, consistently meets and often exceeds the safety standards of any site, including complex projects like HS2. This ensures that, without the need for special adjustments, Osprey operates to the highest safety standards, regardless of the site’s unique demands.

Upon completion, HS2 will provide high-speed train services between London and Birmingham, significantly reducing journey times and freeing up capacity on the existing mainline for additional local and freight services.