Severfield welding crisis hits five National Highways bridges

Aaron Morby 2 weeks ago
Share

The full extent of the welding problems impacting both HS2 and National Highways bridges is emerging in the wake of steelwork contractor Severfield laying bare production problems.

HS2 Curzon approach viaduct steel support tripods impacted by welding problems
HS2 Curzon approach viaduct steel support tripods impacted by welding problems

The Enquirer can reveal five road bridges are now known to be suffering from defective welding in addition to the nine bridge structures impacted on HS2.

While both HS2 and National Highways are refusing to name the specific bridges and structures impacted, weight restrictions have been applied to several affected roads bridges while investigations and testing take place.

A National Highways spokesperson said: “We are carrying out targeted inspections on a small number of bridges to rule out any potential issues.

“These bridges remain safe to use. For any abnormal load movements, we have put restrictions in place as a precaution while we assess whether any further strengthening measures may be required.”

CGI of finished Birmingham approach viaduct and the steel support tripods

On HS2, the problem steelwork is clustered mainly on the key main approach viaducts to the flagship Curzon Street station in Birmingham. These are still under construction.

They are being delivered by main works contractor Balfour Beatty Vinci joint venture using Severfield to deliver corten steel structures, some of which are also due to be delivered by Portuguese steelwork specialist Martifer, which is not implicated in quality concerns.

Three of the nine affected bridges built for HS2 – two rail bridges and one road bridge – are currently in use.

Completed HS2 viaducts impacted


Duddeston Mill Road bridge, Birmingham – main works contractor BBV

Princes Risborough to Aylesbury rail bridge in Buckinghamshire which Carries Chiltern main line over HS2 – EKFB

Chiltern Line bridge in Buckinghamshire

Harvil Road bridge, Hillingdon. Road bridge over Chiltern Line for main works contractor SCS.

It is understood that the spotlight is on the integrity of client-specified full penetration butt welds on fabricated steelwork.

It is also believed the material impacted is weathering Corten steel which requires specialist welding wire or gas.

BBV is now understood to be seeking to employ a third-party firm to provide welding inspections for the both factory and onsite fabrication of key steel structures as part of the HS2 Curzon Approach Viaducts project moving forward.

The assets to be inspected going into construction are Saltley Canal Under Bridge, Lawley Middleway and Curzon 3 Tripods, supplied by Severfield UK and the Duddeston Junction Viaduct and Curzon 2 section to be supplied by Martifer.

So far Severfield has spent £7.1m on testing and remedial works and expects to incur a further £13.3m cost on eight of the projects.

Severfield added that it still needed to agree solutions on four of the remaining structures where weld testing is ongoing.

Yesterday Severfield said it would be pursuing all potential recoveries from third parties, including insurance.

 

Latest news

Bid rigging probe launched into school repair work

Firms raided this week with focus on roofing contracts
13 hours ago

Government commits to four new prisons in seven years

£2.3bn pledged for new prison build programme
12 hours ago

Go-ahead to revamp former London city hall

Project will straighten the building's leaning profile with terraces to every level
1 hour ago

Credit insurance saves Billington from ISG hit

Steel specialist puts on extra shifts at its plants to cope with demand
17 hours ago

M&E specialist Dodd doubles profit on retrofit surge

Family-owned Telford specialist delivers record revenue of nearly £250m
17 hours ago

Go-ahead for 800-home Croydon dual towers

One Lansdowne Road build to rent scheme to cost £260m to build
17 hours ago

Construction inflation set to return raising tender prices

End of 2024 to mark the bottom of present inflationary trough
17 hours ago

Start date for vast Balfour and Costain carbon capture power job

£4bn Teesside project to start construction next year creating 3,000 jobs
1 day ago

Plans go in to start revamp of North Finchley town centre

Developer Regal unveils first details of Barnet masterplan
17 hours ago

Glencar bags £18m Big Yellow London store

Six-storey stoarage centre to be built at Staples Corner
16 hours ago

Plan unveiled for 31-storey London Fenchurch Street tower

Demolition work to start in 2026 for new office tower
2 days ago

Vinci Building buys tower cranes for first time

Contractor invests in two WOLFFKRAN all-electric cranes at £138m Sheffield site
2 days ago

30 local firms land United Utilities £500m framework

Minor works deal win for North West civils and M&E specialists
2 days ago

Restructure pays off as Higgins returns to profit

Housing contractor recovers from £25.9m loss last year
2 days ago

Former Heathrow boss joins Mace in board rejig

Firm completes string NED appointments to expanded group board
3 days ago

Planning officers to get powers to bypass committee stage for housing

Rayner reform plan to cut out local council planning committees
2 days ago

National Insurance hike to delay construction recovery

Arcadis paints varied picture with full recovery delayed until 2026
3 days ago

Gratte Bros rides out cost rises with profit increase

M&E specialist warns of further upward pressure on wage costs
3 days ago

Sellar’s 36-storey London City office tower approved

Demolition work to start in 2026 at 60 Gracechurch Street site
5 days ago

Roofers caught using phone lights to work at night

Roofing boss handed suspended prison sentence for lack of edge protection
3 days ago

£380m North West housing framework out for bid

St Helens-based Torus aims to build 9,000 homes by 2029
3 days ago

Historic property magazine to close

Estates Gazette has been in business since 1858
5 days ago

M&S Marble Arch rebuild approved after three-year planning fight

Plans were delayed when Michael Gove backed carbon campaigners
6 days ago

£191m revamp funding approved for London Barbican Centre

Construction to start in 2027 on five-year programme
6 days ago

RED Construction tops £100m turnover

Builder maintains profit margin at 1.7% as business nearly doubles in size
6 days ago

Timber designs shortlisted for roads ‘footbridge of the future’

Three of five designs for National Highways propose timber structures over busy highways
6 days ago

PM pledges to fast-track 150 infrastructure schemes

Fresh promise to speed up planning decisions on infrastructure and house building
6 days ago

Amey FM firm fined after legionella kills prisoner

Court fines company £600,000 for prison upkeep failures
6 days ago

Buyers report boom in commercial work

Construction bucks slowdown in general economy
7 days ago

Plans in for £250m Stockport 8 housing-led scheme

Work to start on phase 1 by the end of next year
7 days ago

Contractor services