River Tame Viaduct

The River Tame East and West Viaducts are at the northern tip of the Delta Junction. They cross the River Tame near Water Orton and join the Curdworth Box, which will take high speed trains over the existing Birmingham to Derby railway.

In this complicated section of the Delta Junction there are six tracks of the railway running alongside each other as they join the southern end of the Curdworth Box. The River Tame West Viaduct carries three tracks, the River Tame East Viaduct carries one track, and the Water Orton Viaducts carry two tracks.

Viaduct construction

The first 920 tonne deck span on the River Tame Viaduct, the first precast segmental viaduct being built at the Delta Junction, has been completed as work ramps up on the complex network of 13 viaducts in North Warwickshire.

Construction of the viaduct piers started early in 2023, with deck construction now well underway. The 16 concrete deck segments for the first span were lifted by crane, placed one-by-one onto two 42 metre truss beams, moved into place with a skidding trolley, and secured by temporary and then permanent post-tensioning techniques.

The span, weighing 920 tonnes, was then jacked up and the truss was moved onto the adjacent abutment and pier, so the process could start again on the next span. The three initial spans, all from the same abutment and next to each other, will be completed by spring next year. The further spans will be constructed using temporary staying masts, swivel cranes, and temporary and permanent post-tensioning techniques.