Latest developments 30th June

Apologies that family and work commitments have resulted in a lack of update last week.  However I was determined to visit at least the viaduct work site this morning because I am convinced that the section over the east coast main line will be lifted into place this weekend.  Last time access was very difficult because nettles and thistles had grown up at an alarming rate.  This week I was pleased to discover that the main route in by the river Hiz from Cadwell Lane had been strimmed.  Unfortunately they had neglected to clear two of my main vantage points behind the scrapyard and at the foot of the higher triangle of ground between the main and former Bedford lines!   The pile drivers were gone from the site which means that this phase is almost certainly complete.  A very large crane was now located in the gas works on the east side of the main line.  I moved up onto the former Bedford embankment and took the following pictures.

 Steel reinforcing on the last pier on the higher ground is being built up. The orange steel section in front will be used to form the round concrete pillar.

 As is the one next to it.

Here you can see the large crane with a section of viaduct attached

 Moving further north, the crane with a First Hull Trains service passing.

 I then moved up on to the Icknield Way footbridge.  You can see the first section of viaduct to the right of the main line with an East Coast service heading north.  The wooden sides protect the walkways on either side.

 Heading east on the Icknield Way I took some long distance shots of the site.  First is the chalk extraction on Wilbury Hill.  Conditional permission was granted on 21st June and it appears that chalk removal has commenced.

Although it is hard to make out, it looks as if chalk is being deposited up by the existing Cambridge line embankment.  If time allows I will take a closer look.  Centre right of the picture is the farm accommodation bridge under construction waiting for the new embankment.

 To the right of the above picture, a membrane has been laid in readiness for the embankment.  The two strange looking trees top centre are actually mobile phone masts at the world renowned Harkness Roses!

 Finally a shot of the main work compound with the chalk removal diggers parked up on the haul road.  A row of dumper trucks can be seen to the right.  If I am right about the viaduct lift, there will be an update tomorrow.

Update 17th June

Away last weekend so first visit for nearly two weeks.   It looks like the piling is nearly finished, at least on the west side of the mainline.  The pile driver has moved right down to the entrance of the site next to the scrapyard.  It is working on the foundation of pier number two as the first picture shows with number three just behind to the left of the white crane. 

 Piling for pier number one just below the overhead gantry post.

The second section of viaduct seen last time on the ground has been lifted into place and joined to the first section.  It has been attached to the pier immediately adjacent to the west of the main line.  On the other side a matching section can be seen on the ground waiting to be lifted into place.  My guess is that the section that will cross the main line will be lifted into place during an engineers' possession.  Walkways have been attached to both sides of the latest addition.

A view of the viaduct from further north.

And further north again you can see the section on the ground on the east side of the main line.  Other than this, there seemed little change on that side with no obvious progress on the chalk removal from Wilbury Hill. 

Viaduct update

I made a quick visit to Cadwell Lane to check on progress on the viaduct.  I have been away for a few days and was quite surprised to learn that my humble blog has been followed by the Hitchin Alliance who are carrying out the construction of the new line.  They have very generously offered me a site visit so I might be in a position to comment more accurately on the work as it progresses.  The first section of viaduct as been lifted into position during my absence and looks quite dramatic against the sky.  

 The first picture is by the back of the scrapyard.  The pile driver has moved further south but apart from that, little change here.

 Turning round to the north from the same location, you can see the first section of viaduct on the higher triangle of land between the main line and the former Bedford line.

 Moving up on to the triangle a closer shot.  I was mistaken about the steel work behind which is obviously temporary to support this section until the next section is connected.

 A side on shot.

 Here you can see the support immediately next to the west side of the main line.  It has now been poured.

As has the matching one of the east side.

 A closer shot of the viaduct section.  There appears to be an access aperture in the end for maintenance.

Finally the steel work for last pier on the higher ground is starting to appear above ground level as is the one next to it.  Also what appeared to be walkways are being attached to either side of the large section I photographed on my last visit.  Unfortunately the picture of this did not come out well.