HS2 opens twin Warwickshire cycle and road bridges
HS2 has opened two bridges near Leamington Spa carrying a key local road and a long-distance cycle track across the new high-speed railway.
The Fosse Way bridge carries the B4455 across the railway near the village of Offchurch outside Leamington. It follows the route of a roman road between Exeter and Lincoln and is now used by local traffic between the villages around Leamington and Coventry.
It was opened several days after the nearby Offchurch Greenway bridge, which carries the popular walking and cycle path between Leamington and Rugby. The Greenway itself runs along the route of an abandoned railway line.
With the new bridges open, HS2’s contractors can begin the job of demolishing the old section of the road to make way for the cutting which will carry the new railway.
Both bridges were delivered by HS2’s main works contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI and are formed of precast beams sitting on concrete piers. Balfour Beatty VINCI worked with sub-contractor Galldris on the Foss Way while the Greenway was self-delivered.
The Foss Way bridge is 78m long and 14m wide, to provide space for a pavement alongside the road. The Greenway bridge is 68m long and 22m wide and will have grass verges planted on either side of the shared path to help wildlife cross the railway.
Vicki Lee, HS2 Ltd’s Senior Project Manager said: “It’s great to see the Fosse Way and Offchurch Greenway bridges open to the public within a few days of each other. These bridges may be relatively small, but they play a vital role in keeping communities connected and I’d like to thank everyone who worked so hard over the last few years to get them open to the public.”
After crossing HS2, the Greenway currently crosses the B4455 at ground level before continuing towards Rugby. This crossing will also be replaced next year with a new bridge, to keep cyclists and walkers away from passing traffic.
John McNiffe, Project Director for Balfour Beatty VINCI, said: “The recent completion of the Fosse Way and Offchurch Greenway bridges is the latest example of how we’re helping to deliver the HS2 project in Warwickshire. It’s great news for the local community, who will benefit from increased connectivity in the area. We’d like to thank everyone for their continued patience and understanding as we continue to deliver this exciting construction programme.”
A total of four major bridges have been completed in this part of Warwickshire in 2025, following the delivery of Welsh Road Underbridge, which was opened to traffic in February, and the A46 box structure, which completed in April.
There are more than 200 bridges on the HS2 project, ranging from foot and cycle bridges and wildlife-friendly ‘green bridges’, through to enormous viaducts like the Colne Valley – the longest railway bridge in the UK.
Once complete, HS2 will improve journeys between the UK’s two largest cities while freeing up space on the existing West Coast Main Line for more freight and local services in places like Milton Keynes, Watford and the West Midlands.
