Residents living near an enormous HS2 bridge, likened to a scene from a “Godzilla” movie, describe their experience as a “daily hell” due to the imposing 150-meter structure overshadowing their homes.
The Bellingham Bridge, named after renowned Real Madrid and England football star Jude Bellingham, is set to be among the tallest HS2 bridges once completed near Birmingham’s city center.
This massive viaduct is already altering Birmingham’s skyline, with locals comparing it to having the Forth Bridge unexpectedly placed in their backyard.
People residing in nearby flats express that their lives have been severely impacted by the structure, which looms over their properties and gives the impression of living on a perpetual construction site.
Residents also criticize the “eyesore” for blocking sunlight from their homes and worry that the noise from high-speed trains will become intolerable once the contentious rail line is operational.
Moreover, many point out that traffic congestion and parking issues in the Duddeston area have become a constant struggle, fearing these problems will only escalate.
However HS2 say the new bridge will ‘create a new icon on the city’s skyline’ and ‘celebrate the area’s industrial heritage’.
One local resident, Julian Paul, 39, said: ‘The HS2 works have become a daily hell for people around here.
Parvaiz Rehman, who has lived in the area for 30 years, described the bridge as an ‘eyesore’
The Bellingham Bridge – named after the Real Madrid and England star Jude – will be one of the tallest HS2 bridges once it is completed near Birmingham city centre
‘The bridge just looms over our homes like a metal Godzilla. It’s absolutely enormous.
‘It has blocked out our sunlight and we’re basically living in a building site.
‘Once the work has finished I’m concerned about noisy trains going past, they are going to shake our homes as they are so close.
‘I just don’t understand why the bridge needs to be so big, it’s just so imposing and doesn’t even look that good.’
Raheema, 25, said: ‘It’s a bit embarrassing, I don’t like telling people I live here. When I take photos for social media I have to use ChatGPT to add a nice skyline background because the view is so bad.
‘It’s just all the disruption it is bringing and it makes the parking situation a nightmare. We can’t park up outside our own home as the HS2 workers and students take all the spaces.
‘When I look out of my window all I can see are buildings and cranes, it’s a mess.
‘The traffic is also terrible, over Christmas is took me two hours to get into Birmingham, which is usually a 10 minute drive.
Office worker James Williams, who works near Curzon Street, not far from the bridge, told how he has seen the whole landscape of the area change in recent years as HS2 construction takes place
Work first began in Autumn 2023 and it is the tallest structure in the one-mile stretch of connected viaducts being built through the city
‘If it is this bad now, goodness knows what it’s going to be like once it has fully opened.’
Another local, who did not wish to be named, added: ‘It’s an eyesore and like having the Forth Bridge plonked in your back garden.
‘I’m a Villa fan too so I don’t really want a bridge named after a former Birmingham City player towering above my house.
‘The noise and disruption is bad enough and even when its finished we’re going to be stuck with that massive bridge looming over us.’
The bridge – also known as the Curzon 2 bridge – will also feature a 25-metre-high curved truss which will form part of the section of viaduct leading to Birmingham’s flagship Curzon Street Station.
Office worker James Williams, who works near Curzon Street, said: ‘My office overlooks where the new station will be.
‘I’ve seen the whole landscape change dramatically in the last ten years.
‘I used to live in Kent and I can remember all the upheaval the Eurostar caused and it reminds me of that.’
Residents have described how the structure blocks sunlight from entering their homes and dubbed it a ‘metal Godzilla’
The bridge is the tallest of all the viaduct passages under construction for HS2 in Birmingham and will feature a light installation once opened
Birmingham resident Parvaiz Rehman added: ‘I’ve lived here for 30 years and I think HS2 is a total waste of time and money.
‘It’s not a good view at all that we have to put up with. It’s a real eyesore.’
Work first began in Autumn 2023 and it is the tallest structure in the one-mile stretch of connected viaducts being built through the city.
The 150-metre-long deck is being assembled on top of the seven piers of the adjacent Curzon 1 viaduct, with around 130 individual parts lifted by crane.
The entire deck and truss structure, which weighs over 4,000 tonnes, will then be slid 190 metres into place onto the Curzon 2 piers using a jacking system.
Once open, it will feature a light installation designed by artist Liz West titled Out Of The Blue.
A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd said: ‘HS2 is already driving investment and creating new jobs in Birmingham, with a recent study predicting £10bn of benefits to the West Midlands economy over ten years, including the creation of around 30,000 jobs.
‘We are working hard to reduce disruption during construction and unlike the existing railways, HS2 will be built to modern standards with noise barriers to minimise disturbance for people living close by.’
The design for the Curzon Street approaches section has been developed by a Design Joint Venture of Mott MacDonald and Systra and architects Weston Williamson + Partners.
Nicholas Robertshaw, design project director at Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture said previously: ‘The Curzon 2 viaduct will be become an iconic part of Birmingham’s skyline referencing the city’s industrial heritage.’
