The busy A46 Kenilworth Bypass was reopened to traffic last night 30-hours ahead of schedule after a major closure to allow HS2 engineers to slide a massive 14,500-tonne concrete box structure into position beneath the road The huge box – which weighs around the same as two new Royal Navy destroyers – is the heaviest of its kind in Europe It will allow high-speed trains between London and Birmingham to pass under the dual carriageway on their approach to the new Interchange station near the NEC It is one of more than 200 major bridges and viaducts on the new railway which is designed to improve journeys between London while freeing up space on the existing mainline for more freight and local services that could be built alongside the road and slid into place in one operation to avoid two years’ worth of speed restrictions and lane closures that would have been necessary to build a more traditional bridge design The complex three-part operation was led by HS2’s main works contractor BBV – a team made up of Balfour Beatty and VINCI – working closely with National Highways and timed to coincide with lighter traffic during the school Easter holidays “It’s amazing to see the A46 box in position and I’d like to thank everyone who’s worked so hard to get the road open early This record-breaking slide could not have been achieved without the years of meticulous planning and preparation that the team put in working closely with our supply chain and National Highways “While the vast majority of the bridge is now complete we’ve still got a few weeks’ of lane closures to finish the central reservation and wingwalls – and I’d like to thank drivers in advance for their patience during these works.” The first stage involved the demolition of a 200m long section of the old road and the excavation of around 35,000 cubic metres of material to make space for the box to be pushed into place This material – mostly earth and sandstone – was stockpiled on site for reuse later The second stage involved pushing the 42m wide structure into position Specialist engineers used an innovative jacking mechanism called Autoripage designed by specialist civil and structural engineering company Freyssinet to push the box across on a guiding raft at an average speed of 6.5 metres per hour for a total distance of 64 metres Fifteen enormous jacks were used to guide the box into position allowing engineers to gradually adjust the direction of travel with millimetre precision A series of holes in the base of the box allowed engineers to inject bentonite – a clay-based material – into the space between the box and the ground This acted a lubrication to help ease the sliding operation the embankment which carries the road was carefully reconstructed the new carriageway put into place and the road was reopened to traffic at around midnight last night – 30 hours ahead of schedule To allow time for the completion of the central reservation and wingwalls on either side one lane on either side of the road will be closed until Thursday 31st July 2025 “Our concern with any scheme is to minimise the impact for people using or living near our roads and certainly such a huge complex engineering feat as this would inevitably bring some disruption “So to have avoided two years of lane closures and speed restrictions on one of our key routes is tremendous news After many years working closely with HS2 and their supply chain we are delighted to see all of that planning and preparation come to fruition “We are grateful to people for their patience during the road closure to enable this innovative work to take place.” “We’re extremely proud to have successfully delivered the UK’s heaviest bridge slide across the A46 in Warwickshire It’s a huge achievement for the dedicated project team who’ve worked tirelessly over the last two years to reach this point using innovative construction methods to move this bridge into place and return the road back to normal in just 18 days reducing the impact on road users significantly.” progress is also being made on the Delta Junction which will take trains into Birmingham city centre with the first deck recently completed on the River Tame West Viaduct Two giant tunnelling machines under London have also recently completed their drives excavating the five-mile-long Northolt tunnels around 31,000 people are employed on the HS2 project both directly and through the UK-wide supply chain After entering the final phase of construction in January, the structure will allow HS2 trains to travel beneath the road of the bypass With an estimated two years required to build the box structure using traditional methods the structure was built beside the A46 Kenilworth Bypass to be slid into position afterwards This structure is the heaviest of its kind throughout Europe and just one of over 200 new bridges and viaducts for the HS2 railway The box structure was designed as such to allow easier installation and construction given the location, and avoiding unnecessary delays, speed restrictions, and lane closures. The operation was performed in three parts and was led by Balfour Beatty VINCI JV, timed to take advantage of less traffic during the Easter break. The first stage saw demolition of a 200m-long section of old road, followed by the excavation of 35,000 cubic metres to create an area for where the box structure will be pushed into place. The material excavated was recycled later. The second stage saw the 42m-wide structure pushed into position over 10 hours. This was achieved through a jacking mechanism, known as Autoripage. Autoripage involved 15 jacks that guided the box and allowed adjustments to be made during travelling. The box was pushed at an average speed of 6.5 metres per hour across 64 metres. The final stage saw reconstruction of the embankments, with a new carriageway built and reopened to traffic at midnight of 30 April. One lane remains closed on either side of the road until Thursday 31 July to allow for construction of central reservations and wingwalls. Cameron Thompson, HS2 Ltd’s head of delivery, said: “It’s amazing to see the A46 box in position and I’d like to thank everyone who’s worked so hard to get the road open early. This record-breaking slide could not have been achieved without the years of meticulous planning and preparation that the team put in, working closely with our supply chain and National Highways. “While the vast majority of the bridge is now complete, we’ve still got a few weeks’ of lane closures to finish the central reservation and wingwalls – and I’d like to thank drivers in advance for their patience during these works.” Victoria Lazenby, National Highways regional director, said: “Our concern with any scheme is to minimise the impact for people using or living near our roads and certainly such a huge, complex engineering feat as this would inevitably bring some disruption. “So to have avoided two years of lane closures and speed restrictions on one of our key routes is tremendous news. After many years working closely with HS2 and their supply chain we are delighted to see all of that planning and preparation come to fruition. John McNiffe, project director at Balfour Beatty VINCI, said: “We’re extremely proud to have successfully delivered the UK’s heaviest bridge slide across the A46 in Warwickshire. It’s a huge achievement for the dedicated project team who’ve worked tirelessly over the last two years to reach this point. “My team has worked around the clock, using innovative construction methods to move this bridge into place and return the road back to normal in just 18 days, reducing the impact on road users significantly.” Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Planning, Building & Construction Today website is the place to come for compelling and informative features, news and products for a diverse audience serving a wide construction sector. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. A host of famous names will appear on ballot papers across the country as voters go to the polls on Thursday I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Local councillors are usually obscure figures passionate local activists hoping to improve their areas or ambitious party loyalists wanting to climb the electoral ladder But among the thousands of councillors standing across the country on Thursday From Olympians to ousted ex-MPs, The Independent looks at how the main parties are hoping star power will help their candidates over the line in one of the most unpredictable sets of local elections in British history Stiliyan Petrov, the son of an ex-Aston Villa and Bulgaria captain of the same name, is standing for Reform UK in the May local elections His father is Bulgaria’s most capped player and he hopes to represent Nigel Farage’s party in Lapworth & West Kenilworth “I decided to stand for election because I think it’s time the working-class people and the youth of this country have a voice that’ll actually represent them,” the ex-professional footballer’s son said James Cracknell is standing for a seat on Oxfordshire County Council The double Olympic gold medal-winning rower is standing as a Conservative for Henley having previously attempted to become the area’s MP He was awarded an OBE for “services to sport” in the 2005 New Year Honours list and is promising to help Henley “get its buzz back” he has made holding water companies to account over river cleanliness a key issue he is fighting on Reform UK’s candidate for the Hull and East Yorkshire mayoral election is also an Olympic gold medalist The boxer is swapping his gloves for the chance to represent the region as the first head of the new combined authority said Hull and East Yorkshire has “given me everything” and that he now wants to fight for the region in return The Love Island star is hoping to strike it lucky with voters and win a Reform UK seat on Cornwall council Ollie Williams appeared on the ITV dating show in 2020 but left after just three days claiming he had feelings for another woman The 29-year-old sparked fury among viewers as photos emerged of him posing beside dead animals leading to suggestions he was “trophy hunting” He has avoided the limelight in the years since his appearance on the ITV show but is now standing for Reform in the Lostwithiel and Lanreath ward “Our freedom of speech and society has been eroded for far too long and it’s time to act,” he declared Self-styled “Brexit bad boy” Arron Banks co-founded the Leave.EU campaign alongside now Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice The long-standing Farage supporter is now running to become the West of England mayor for his party Announcing his candidacy at Reform’s local election launch in Birmingham, he called on people to “vote Banksy for Bristol”. As well as close ties to Mr Farage, Mr Banks has a history of ties to Donald Trump and was pictured with him after the US Presidential election in 2016 He has cited Mr Trump’s success as being the result of connecting with voters on an emotional level Mr Banks and Mr Farage drew the interest of Robert Mueller as part of his investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. Mr Banks described the investigation as a “witch hunt”. Mr Banks also made headlines after the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016. At the time, he commissioned a controversial poll on whether her murder had affected public opinion on voting. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies govt and politics"},{"score":0.883518,"label":"/law govt and politics/politics/elections/local elections"},{"score":0.84707,"label":"/law govt and politics/politics/political parties"},{"score":0.715858,"label":"/law govt and politics/government/parliament"},{"score":0.651601,"label":"/law govt and politics/politics/elections/presidential elections"},{"score":0.559151,"label":"/law The popular Cherry Orchard Household Waste Recycling Centre in Kenilworth will temporarily close on Tuesday 8 April 2025 for one day to allow for essential maintenance work at the site office There will be no access to the recycling centre or reuse shop but the site is expected be open again on Wednesday 9 April Any changes to this plan will be posted on the site webpages and Warwickshire Recycles social media channels.   along with other larger recycling centres in Warwickshire are open until 6pm on Wednesdays throughout the summer Warwickshire County Council extends its apologies to anyone planning to book an appointment to visit the site that day, bookings have been suspended. Residents are advised to consider the alternative recycling centre at Princes Drive in Leamington Spa stated: “The essential maintenance works at Cherry Orchard are unavoidable We apologise to anyone whose plans to visit the recycling centre will need to be adjusted as a result “Warwickshire residents have made significant progress in reusing We would like to thank residents for taking the time and effort to recycle and to reassure them that it is making a difference and is a major contributor towards the county becoming net zero.”   Information about your local recycling centres and booking can be found at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/hwrc   Residents can Follow Warwickshire Recycles on social media for daily tips:  Residents can find out where their recycling goes and the types of products it goes on to be remade into by visiting www.warwickshire.gov.uk/whereitgoes   For more information about how Warwickshire County Council is facing the challenges of the climate change emergency, visit: https://www.sustainablewarwickshire.co.uk/   Warwickshire County Council’s libraries service is inviting you to enjoy a very different type of storytelling experience at Kenilworth Library on Wednesday 12 February Step into the remarkable world of Human Books Human Books are individuals who have volunteered to share their extraordinary life stories with others speaking their narratives in ways that can inspire or sometimes challenge our own perspectives In just 20-minute one-to-one conversations you can learn about a stranger’s life embracing the opportunity to enjoy listening to another human being and asking questions without judgement From stories about resilience in the face of adversity to reflections on mental health Kenilworth Library’s Human Books event will cover a wide range of topics Each Human Book will offer a different glimpse into the human experience and experiences of human life in ways that foster empathy and encourage us to connect and understand each other better within our own communities The event is open to readers aged 18 and above with some 20-minute stories expected to cover challenging experiences Attendees will be encouraged to browse through the available Human Book titles and blurbs carefully before selecting their preferred book To secure a free place at Kenilworth Library’s event and to find out more about each Human Book, visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/human-books-kenilworth-library-3899933.  Portfolio Holder for Customer and Transformation “Human Books is a great event that can help residents learn how to step out of their comfort zones and engage safely with new and diverse perspectives It is also an opportunity in our increasingly digital world to connect with others in person and community spirit through the power of storytelling I encourage those who have never tried Human Books before to give it a go and our welcoming libraries staff will be on hand to help you to enjoy this vibrant and unique storytelling experience” Human Books first enjoyed success at Warwickshire Libraries in Rugby Library last year ALL amazing people – inspiring!" and "stories are how we learn empathy and judge less It's important that everyone is heard!" Another resident also added “This human experience has been amazing.. talking to them and actually experiencing their journey – it was lovely and very interesting." To keep-up to date with Warwickshire Libraries’ latest information and events, follow the service on Facebook and Instagram, or sign-up to the weekly newsletter. Warwickshire Libraries is a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) in Arts Council England’s funding plans for 2023-26 which means it’s receiving funding from Arts Council England’s Investment Programme over three years to deliver a programme of free cultural and creative outreach activities A selection of the best fan images from City’s 3-1 loss to Luton Town at Kenilworth Road Keep up to date with all the latest goings on by signing up for the Bristol City Email newsletter Ashton Gate StadiumAshton RoadBristolBS3 2EJ To continue please log in with your personal details Logging in will give you access to ticketing If you have not yet set up a Bristol City FC account just click Create Account below Matches Players LTFC+ Tickets & Hospitality Club xemailWe are proud to announce that Kenilworth Road will host the Bedfordshire Football Association Women’s and Men’s Senior Cup Finals this season This exciting decision is a major milestone for local football and reinforces the commitment to promoting both men’s and women’s football at the highest levels Hosting both finals at Kenilworth Road is a unique opportunity to celebrate the achievements of both finals on the same stage By bringing the men’s and women’s finals together the event will ensure that the women’s game is given the recognition it deserves providing a platform for the growth of women’s football The two finals will take place on the following dates: Thursday 20th March – 7.45pm: Luton Town Ladies v Real Bedford Ladies Tuesday 15th April – 7.45pm: Barton Rovers v AFC Dunstable Bedfordshire Football Association Chair of County Cup's James Smiles said: “The Bedfordshire Football Association would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to Luton Town Football Club for agreeing to host these prestigious events The club’s support is a testament to its dedication to the continued development and growth of football across the county.” Luton Town Operations Director James Mooney added: “This season we had the opportunity to host both the Beds FA Women’s and Men’s Senior Cup Finals it gives the team a great opportunity to play in front of Hatters fans and showcase their fine form so far this season It also it gives other local clubs a chance to play at Kenilworth Road before we start preparing for the move to Power Court and we look forward to welcoming Real Bedford Barton Rovers and AFC Dunstable for what we hope will be memorable occasions for all involved.” Ticket details for both matches will be released in the coming days å © Copyright of Luton Town Football Clubtest xemailLuton Town are spending Easter Monday on home soil as we host play-off hopefuls Bristol City at Kenilworth Road (Monday Matt Bloomfield’s Hatters picked up a huge three points against relegation rivals Derby County and will look to replicate that result again to complete an Easter double Liam Manning’s Robins strengthened their play-off spot with victory against Sunderland at Ashton Gate on Good Friday The build-up will start at 1pm when the 140 Bar opens its doors on the Kenilworth Apron The covered bar will offer hundreds of supporters a large space to savour the pre-match atmosphere At 2.15pm two first-team players will be taking selfies and signing autographs for fans at the 140 Bar Happy Hour will be between 1pm and 2pm with 50 per cent off soft drinks water and alcohol* and a DJ will entertain supporters with a mix of music on the Kenilworth Apron *This deal is only available from LTFC units and does not include concessions Kelchner Brewery and Leighton Buzzard Brewery Subject to availability, there are a limited number of tickets still available to be with us on the day. These are on general sale to supporters with a previous purchase history and all Hatters members. If you cannot join us and are following from overseas, you can watch the game live on LTFC+ This fixture is available in all countries Alternatively, you can buy an LTFC+ annual overseas subscription This will give you access to this fixture and any other Luton Town fixture which can be broadcast on LTFC+ in your location Not at Kenilworth Road and not based abroad? You can still listen to the match live with Simon Pitts or follow game updates on our dedicated Match Centre which will appear on the website and app home page in the build-up to kick-off Luton came out on top in our Good Friday six-pointer at Pride Park against Derby Millenic Alli scored the only goal of the game as the resilient performance from the Hatters brought a clean sheet and the three points back to Bedfordshire It has been a brilliant month so far for Bristol City Three wins from their last four games has cemented their place in the top six going into the final three games with a four-point lead on Middlesbrough in seventh The Robins have been in great form since the turn of the year – they have lost just three Championship games in 2025 Recent victories against West Brom and Sunderland have only boosted the confidence of Manning’s men as they hope to extend their season into the play-offs Rob Dickie has been a constant in the Robins defence and marked his good form with a goal on Good Friday We took all three points when Bristol City last visited Kenilworth Road in March 2023 2022/23 top scorer Morris scored within the first five minutes as we held on for the victory under the lights in LU4 The referee for our fixture against Bristol City will be John Busby 86 yellow cards and two red cards have been handed out by Busby across his 28 games this season Just three of Busby’s 28 games this season have not been Championship fixtures Busby last officiated a Luton fixture when we visited Sunderland in February Assistant Referees: Alex James & Shaun Hudson Luton Town Football Club has committed in its customer charter to providing safe match-day experiences for all supporters regardless of age and this applies equally to home and away fixtures In the event that any Luton supporters do make discriminatory chants the Club will work with the police and football authorities to help identify such individuals Any such fans would then face the strictest club sanctions including football banning orders that would prevent them attending any matches we would like to warn against pitch incursions and the use of pyrotechnics or missiles – which could lead to potential prosecution The Club can also be held responsible for the behaviour of its supporters which could lead to substantial fines being imposed we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our fellow EFL clubs in supporting the FA’s ‘Love Football Protect the Game’ campaign and call on all fans to enjoy the game in a positive spirit If you are offended by any discriminatory abuse of any kind at any of our games, you can report it by clicking HERE or by contacting your nearest steward immediately Alternatively, email [email protected] or report the incident via Kick it Out's free confidential reporting app on the App Store and Google Play