from HS2

What we are doing

From 5 January 2026, we will be continuing our work on the construction of the porous portal and the headhouse for our West Ruislip Portal site.

We will carry out the following activities:

• Hydroscabbling: high-pressure water jets will scratch concrete surfaces to help new layers stick (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm and Saturday, 8am to 1pm)
• Formwork and steel fixing (Monday to Saturday,  24 hours a day)

HS2 is undergoing a comprehensive reset to ensure it can be built efficiently and for the lowest reasonable cost. This work is being carried out in stages and will be completed in 2026. We will provide you with updates on the reset and what this means for our plans to build the railway in your area.

Download information relating to these works

• Headhouse works at West Ruislip Portal

https://www.hs2.org.uk/work-items/headhouse-works-at-west-ruislip-portal/#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=41c5bfb6-880b-48b1-9c3c-53daa4430300
or
https://assets.hs2.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/AWN-Hydroscabbling-Jan-2026.pdf

Richard Mascarenhas, Metropolitan Police, PCSO, WA Ickenham South Harefield reports that there are currently temporary traffic lights on the junction of SWAKELEYS ROAD and HIGH ROAD in Ickenham. This is causing significant delays in travel in the area. Please check the traffic before beginning your journey and use alternative routes if able. 

Breakspear Road South Road Closure for Conveyor Bridge Removal – Fri 28/11 at 8pm to Sun 30/11 at 8pm
 
HS2/SCS have agreed with LBH that Breakspear Road South will be Closed at the Chiltern Railway Bridge while the Conveyor Bridge that oversails the Highway is removed These works have been rescheduled to take place on the weekend of Fri 28/11 at 8pm to Sun 30/11 at 8pm.
 
The Conveyor Bridge carries the Conveyor system that was used to transport the TBM Spoil/Material over Breakspear Road South towards the Treatment Area at Harvil Road Gate 1. Now that both TBMs have completed their tunnelling between West Ruislip and Greenpark Way in LB Ealing the Conveyors are being removed and the Bridges that carry the Conveyor can also be removed.
 
These works will involve laying Matting on the road surface to protect it, then using a Crane to lower the Bridge to ground level before dismantling and removing it. The road would then be cleared with the Matting removed before reopening to the public.
 

• There will be no Emergency Services Access during this Road Closure due to overhead lifting operations on the carriageway.
• The Pedestrian Crossing which runs diagonally underneath the Chiltern Line Bridge will be closed for the duration of this Road Closure (also due to overhead lifting).
• Notices & Signage will be installed in advance to advise walkers of the Pedestrian Crossing Closure.
• The Diversion Route has now been confirmed with HS2/SCS and is the usual Diversion via Swakeleys Road, Ickenham High Road, Bury Street, Breakspear Road 

Piling and Drainage Installation works for Noise Barrier in West Ruislip Embankment area – 28/07/25 to 27/03/26

From 28/07/25 to 27/03/26 HS2/SCS will be carrying out works to allow the construction of the Noise Barriers along the HS2 route between the Copthall Tunnel and West Ruislip Portal. These works will be happening during Core Hours only (Mon to Fri 8am to 6pm & Sat 8am to 1pm).

Update Nov 2025 – The Noise barrier Piling is being completed in 2 Phases. Please note that Phase 1 was completed in Oct 2025 and Phase 2 has now started in Nov 2025 (from w/c 17/11).
HS2/SCS will start by installing Concrete Piles to stabilise the ground, followed by the installation of Drainage Systems.

information update from HS2

Safety is our number one priority at Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS) and across HS2. I’m writing to let you know that last week a serious incident occurred at our site at Green Park Way in Ealing. As a result, works are being safely halted across the London tunnels section of the route, including sites in Hillingdon. While no workers were physically harmed, SCS is undertaking a comprehensive review of safety procedures and leadership on their sites before a safe restart can take place.

Works will be brought to a safe stop and will remain on hold until we and HS2 are satisfied that all appropriate measures are in place to protect the workforce. We anticipate the review may take a number of weeks depending on the area and the type of work involved. We will continue to keep local communities updated

·  Postponed Breakspear Road South Road Closure – Fri 03/10 at 8pm until Sun 05/10 at 8pm (likely to be rescheduled to Fri 31/10 at 8pm to Sun 02/11 at 8pm – tbc)
Please note that these works have now been POSTPONED due to nesting birds found on the Conveyor Bridge Structure that cannot be removed as there are unhatched eggs. This means that both the original dates of 03/10 to 05/10 & the contingency dates of 17/10 to 19/10 cannot be achieved. HS2/SCS are looking at rescheduling these works and it is likely that the weekend of Fri 31/10 at 8pm to Sun 02/11 at 8pm will be the agreed date (with a further contingency date to be added). I will update you further next week on this matter.

New HS2 Planning Updates: 
The following Planning Applications are active and relate to HS2 works in Hillingdon. The aim going forward will be to provide concise information about active Planning Applications within this section which will be updated weekly. 
U81 – Stopping Up

• Application to permanently Stop-Up (close) the U81 Public Right of Way is currently on hold with LBH Planning Team – ref: 75317/APP/2024/2074
• Following public consultation there is strong opposition to the permanent Stopping-Up of the U81
• Talks ongoing between HS2, DfT & LBH to look at any alternative routes or designs that might be feasible instead of proposed design that is deemed unsafe by LBH & Met Police
• Once these talks have been completed and next steps are confirmed these will be communicated to residents 

Schedule 17 – Ickenham Access Road

• Request for approval under Schedule 17 to the High-Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Act 2017 for works relating to the shared Ickenham Access Road comprising of safety bollards, earthworks and a timber boom gate
• LBH Planning Team – ref: 77816/APP/2025/2057
• Decision due 23/09/25 (expected to be completed around 26/09)

from  HS2

From 8pm on Friday 3 October to 8pm on Sunday 5 October 2025, we will remove the conveyor bridge over Breakspear Road South, located between the Chiltern Railway bridge and the HS2 Breakspear Road South bridge.

These works will be carried out 24/7 over a whole weekend which will require a full road closure on a section of Breakspear Road South.

We will dismantle the conveyor bridge in sections using an excavator before lifting them out with a crane and transporting the sections off site. These works will be carried out 24/7 over a whole weekend.

Please note, these works can only be carried out under rail possession, therefore, to ensure completion we have a contingency date in place from 8pm Friday 17 October to 8pm Sunday 19 October.