Moxon
A modern bridge structure extends over a lush, sunlit field of tall grass. Trees form a line in the background, and the sky is filled with soft clouds, creating a serene and picturesque landscape.
Wendover Dean Viaduct

Pioneering new viaduct for HS2

Wendover Dean Viaduct

Buckinghamshire, England

2017 — ongoing

Client   HS2 Ltd
Road & Rail
Wendover Dean Viaduct's innovative structural design enables a carefully proportioned silhouette set against the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  It is the first major ‘double composite’ railway viaduct in the UK, an engineering technique that takes advantage of concrete’s compressive strength at the top and bottom of continuous steel girders - significantly cutting embedded carbon while delivering a lighter, stronger and more elegant structure.

The entire 450m long viaduct was launched from the northern embankment in two stages. Against weathering steel beams, the pale concrete parapet appears as a fine horizontal band hovering over the fields on nine slender, distinctive piers. The abutments are embedded into landscaped embankments to conceal supporting structures and further simplify the form. 

A modern bridge structure extends over a lush, sunlit field of tall grass. Trees form a line in the background, and the sky is filled with soft clouds, creating a serene and picturesque landscape.
A concrete bridge pillar with a Y-shape supports a bridge at sunrise. The warm light highlights the texture of the structure. In the background, lush green fields and trees create a serene landscape.

To minimise disruption for the local community, key components were precast offsite. Historic field boundaries and hedgerows beneath the viaduct will be recreated for farmers and residents, and the valley floor will be replanted with native trees and shrubs.

The bridge represents close partnership working between Moxon, EKFB, ASC, and the wider design team. It is one of a series of viaducts by Moxon for HS2, including its sibling structure Small Dean Viaduct.

A serene landscape featuring a vast field of grass with patches of browning, under a clear sky. A highway bridge stretches across the background, lined with trees, adding depth to the scene.
A scenic view of a countryside landscape featuring rolling hills and lush greenery. A modern bridge spans across the landscape, with power lines running alongside it. The scene is bathed in soft, natural daylight.
A serene meadow with lush green grass and trees under a clear blue sky. In the background, a bridge with visible power lines stretches across the landscape.

‘Moxon Architects changed the dynamic about the way work on HS2 is done and presented’

Kay Hughes, HS2 Design Director

Aerial view of a countryside construction site with a long road in progress, flanked by fields. Theres heavy machinery and materials staged along the site. The sky is partly cloudy, with a hint of sunset in the background.
A red steel bridge structure under construction extends over a scaffold-covered support. The scene includes construction workers, equipment, and a partially cleared landscape. Theres a blue sky overhead, and the surrounding area features grass and a dirt road.
Construction site of a bridge in progress, featuring scaffolding and a red steel beam. Workers are visible on the structure. The background shows grassy hills and a clear blue sky.
Red steel beams are suspended in the air at a construction site during sunset. Below, construction vehicles and materials are scattered around. In the background, there are trees and a power line against a colorful sky.
Two construction workers in orange safety gear inspect a large red support structure beneath a bridge. They are crouched, wearing helmets and gloves, focused on the equipment. Scaffolding and a blurred natural background are visible.
/5
Partners
Contractor
EKFB
Consultant
ASC
Structural engineer
Arcadis
Coverage
New Civil Engineer HS2 | Sliding of 320m double composite deck for Westbury viaduct commences ↗ Construction News HS2 Wendover Dean Viaduct: how to launch a deck in a tight space ↗ Construction Enquirer HS2 viaducts show future for low-carbon crossings ↗ Building Make it beautiful, but not iconic: Moxon’s challenging brief to design HS2 viaducts in Buckinghamshire ↗

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