And from the west

Quick visit the the west side of the main line.  Got a better shot of the new section of viaduct which makes four in total.  Starting to look really impressive now.  The viaduct support next to the end of the triangle of higher ground has been started.  This will be a lot bigger than the others as will the remaining ones up to the new junction with the main line.

Long shot of the viaduct

Looking across the main line, the new section with more supports waiting.

An East Coast service passes under the new viaduct.

Last two viaduct supports on the higher ground are nearing completion. This is the second one in.

 And the last one.  Behind is the first one on the lower ground.

 Here is a closer shot.  As I said at the beginning, these supports are going to be quite a bit taller.

 Finally a quick shot looking back to the existing end of the viaduct.  Apologies for a lack of an update.  Uploading problems with Blogger, a week's holiday and a family matter have made this difficult.  The latter will I am afraid will impact on my abilty to visit the site over the next few weeks but I will do my best.

News from the east

.......from the east side of the main line that is!  Work to remove chalk from Wilbury Hill has continued and the embankment construction has stepped up a gear.  It appears that a membrane with a level of gravel has been laid over the entire length.  Chalk has been tipped over a larger area although not to any great height yet.  The impact on the hill is quite noticeable though as the first photo shows.  The row of viaduct support piers has extended almost to the edge of the redundant sewage treatment works and another section of viaduct has been lifted into place on this side of the main line.

Chalk removal continues. 

End of future embankment just before the former sewage treatment works.  Membrane and gravel in place.

Line of viaduct supports in the former sewage treatment works.

 And further on meeting up with the new section of viaduct.

 Middle section of the future embankment with chalk laid down. Top right is the farm bridge and top centre is the first section of chalk but with no apparent change from two weeks ago.

Farmer's accommodation underbridge with just the wing walls to be added.  This gives us a good indication of the height of the embankment.

Network Rail timelapse video of viaduct lift

This is the Network Rail timelapse video of the viaduct being lifted into place on 1st July

Viaduct over East Coast Main Line in place

As I suspected, the section of viaduct over the main line was lifted in to place during the night.  I went down at 7am and it was all over by then. There were just a few Network Rail engineers checking the overheads.  You have to take your hat off to Hochtief for the efficient way it was done.  It looks like it fitted perfectly and now appears like it was always there!

 View from Icknield Way footbridge

 Close-up from same location

 Side view from the west

You can see the curve from this angle.

I then took the opportunity to take the footpath that follows the Cambridge line as far as the future junction with the new line.   It was incredibly overgrown because it is not a through path at the moment.  Presumably it will be diverted to pass under the new line via the farmer's accommodation bridge, shown under construction in the next picture.

 A wonderful field of poppies has sprung up in the uncultivated field.  At the public consulation meeting, there was talk that passive provision for a new access road from Stotfold Road to the industrial area might be included.  However judging from the size of this bridge that's not going to happen.

 Embankment construction has started at the point where the two lines will meet.

 A better view of the chalk removal.  A new cliff can be seen developing in the centre

And finally, turning round from the same spot for reference purposes, in the distance a shot of the crane used to lift in the viaduct.