Aston Church Road Overbridge

The new Aston Church Road bridge, which is 84 metres long and 21 metres wide, crosses the existing Birmingham to Derby railway line. It will also sit above the new HS2 tracks as high speed trains travel in and out of Birmingham.

The bridge provides an upgraded, safer section of Aston Church Road including cycleways, which connects Saltley, Washwood Heath and Nechells in north-east Birmingham.

Bridge construction

The 1,600 tonne steel and concrete bridge was moved into place in Saltley, Birmingham in just five hours on Saturday 10 August 2024. The bridge was built on land next to the existing railway and then moved into position in one operation to significantly reduce disruption to rail passengers and road users.

The bridge sits on three structures – an abutment to the West of the existing rail tracks, a pier consisting of two columns on the East of the existing tracks, and an abutment to the East of the pier.

Over a period of 14 months, starting October 2024, the original Aston Church Road bridge will be demolished to create the extra space for the HS2 line to pass through, and works will get underway to connect the new bridge to the existing road network.

Bridge design

The viaduct design has been influenced by feedback from community engagement events. Increased LED lighting levels for pedestrians and cyclists will increase safety while reducing light spill to trains below. This lighting design will also protect wildlife, particularly bats that may forage underneath the bridge, by decreasing overall light pollution.

Public feedback has also resulted in the stainless-steel finish being replaced with weathered steel panels incorporating a perforated pattern to maximise light and views, making the bridge feel warmer and improving the pedestrian experience. The side of the bridge has also been lowered in sections to improve views. People were also keen to see green spaces, so this has also been addressed by creating new woodland planting in the area around the bridge, including native trees, shrubs, and species-rich grassland.

The nearby mosque will benefit from a new paved central area with seating, which can act as an overspill space when the mosque is busy. The space will be surrounded by low maintenance ornamental shrub planting and species rich grassland along with much needed tree planting to provide shading and separation from the highway. In addition, creative ideas reflecting Islamic cultural themes such as paving with engraved calligraphy, mosaic tiles, weathered steel planters and tree grills, a seating canopy, and pillars with climbing plants, are being explored as designs develop further.

Aston Church Road Overbridge design information boards