HS2 Ltd and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) have agreed to collaborate on the delivery of the utility diversions needed for the construction of the Birmingham Eastside metro extension, which will serve HS2 Curzon Street.
The West Midlands Metro Eastside extension will give passengers a tram link to HS2.
HS2 and the West Midlands Combined Authority have created joint plans so that utility diversions around HS2 Curzon Street will be ready for the tram extension. HS2’s enabling works contractor LMJV is responsible for the utility diversions, work which will take place in 2021 in advance of construction.
“We’re extremely pleased to reach this agreement with WMCA, and will continue to work with them and our other partners, including Birmingham City Council, Transport for the West Midlands, Midland Metro Alliance and Network Rail to ensure that HS2 delivers additional benefits to Birmingham and the wider region.
“HS2 is already playing a pivotal role in helping Britain’s economic recovery, with 7,000 jobs being created in the Midlands as the project moves into construction. It is also crucial to the country’s low carbon future by providing a cleaner, greener way to travel, helping to cut the number of cars and lorries on our congested roads.”
Curzon Street station will be situation in Birmingham’s city centre. Having received planning permission earlier this year, it is the first of the HS2 stations that will be built.
“This agreement with HS2 shows that we are preparing the ground to ensure we are ready to begin construction of our Eastside Metro extension in the New Year. This extension, which will run through Digbeth and the new HS2 Curzon Street Station, is not only part of our wider transport plan for the region, but it will also help create and protect jobs at a challenging time for our economy. The benefits to people both short and long-term will be immense, and it is critical we now press on with the construction.”
Earlier this year the Curzon Street station design achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating.
