---
title: Marston Box-Bridge Slide
url: "https://www.systra.com/ireland/project/marston-box-bridge-slide/"
type: projects
date_published: 2023-11-13
date_modified: 2025-04-25
schema:
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language: en-IE
word_count: 1188
reading_time: 6 min
canonical: "https://www.systra.com/ireland/project/marston-box-bridge-slide/"
featured_image: "https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/06/highways-and-roads-marston-box.jpg"
type-market:
  - Transport
type-service:
  - "Development & Infrastructure"
  - Infrastructure Engineering
---

# Marston Box-Bridge Slide

![Marston Box-Bridge Slide](https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/06/highways-and-roads-marston-box.jpg)

### The world’s longest bridge box slide

Over the Christmas period 2022 the Marston Box Bridge spanning 86 metres and
weighing 12,600 tonnes was slid into place across one of the UK’s busiest
motorways, the M42 in Warwickshire. It was a world first.

The Marston Box Bridge forms a critical part of the HS2 Main Works Civils
Contract Lots N1 and N2 being delivered by Balfour Beatty VINCI.  On completion
the structure will carry HS2 trains over the M42 motorway north to Crewe and
south to Birmingham Curzon Street or to the interchange station at Solihull, Old
Oak Common Station and London Euston Station.

Designed by SYSTRA structural engineers, using innovative technology to
reimagine the baseline design, with support from our joint venture partner Mott
MacDonald and specialist consultant Freyssinet, the solution supports HS2’s
objectives to minimise disruption to road users, reduce the impact of
construction on local communities, and demonstrate environmental stewardship.

The dramatic operation took 40 hours, at a speed of 4 metres per hour, during a
10-day closure of the motorway between Junctions J9 and J10 (northbound and
southbound).

![](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/10/marston-box-construction-hs2-vl-50987-dji_0110_web-1024x768.jpg)

_Drone images of the Marston Box bridge after it was successfully installed over the M42 motorway in Warwickshire._

![](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/10/hs2-vl-50970-2022-12-21_marston_box-6-1024x1006.jpg)

_Marston Box bridge structure fully assembled on land next to the M42 motorway, prior to being installed._

> “The Marston Box slide was a great example of what can be achieved when we
> work collaboratively and as one team.  This complex and challenging puzzle was
> solved thanks to lots of different teams coming together, each bringing their
> own area of expertise and experience. It’s certainly a career highlight for
> me, as I’m sure it is for many others who contributed to this impressive
> engineering feat.”
> **Sasan Ghavami, Balfour Beatty VINCI’s Project Director North Main Line**

### A dramatic reduction in disruption and carbon

By adopting the box slide method, the project significantly enhanced the safety
of both workers and drivers, minimising work conducted alongside live motorway
lanes. Furthermore, this pioneering approach utilised construction efficiency,
leading to considerable time and cost savings.

The project prioritised mitigating disruptions typically associated with
traditional construction methods. Instead of enduring protracted lane
restrictions and closures, the box slide technique required only two road
closures. The approach minimised inconvenience for road users, alleviated
traffic congestion, and mitigated the impact on surrounding communities.

### Delivering social, environmental and commercial benefits

The project successfully eliminated two years of restrictions and concluded a
full day ahead of schedule, significantly reducing disruptions for motorists and
ensuring streamlined project delivery. These accomplishments resulted in
substantial cost savings and heightened project efficiency.

As part of the key project gateway lifecycle assessment (LCA) Balfour Beatty
VINCI evaluated that the revised design improved carbon and materials efficiency
by decreasing steel and concrete quantities and removing numerous pot bearings
of the initial design.  In addition, the off-site construction reduced the
closure of the M42 from 18 months in the initial design to only 10 days avoiding
significant carbon emissions from the M42 diversion and traffic congestion.  The
carbon savings were evaluated as having avoided 2230 tCO_(2), a 25% reduction
from the baseline scheme design. 

Qualitatively, the project captured the imagination of the public and media,
with the video of the slide becoming the BBC’s “most watched” during the festive
period. This recognition not only showcased the slide’s spectacle but also
inspired appreciation for the field of engineering in the general public.

### Revolutionising bridge placement

The Marston Box Rail Bridge Box Slide represented ground-breaking innovation by
redefining infrastructure construction practices. This visionary project emerged
from a desire to revolutionise traditional bridge placement methods, resulting
in the UK’s inaugural box bridge slide and a world record for the longest slide.
Through collaboration, cutting-edge engineering and sustainability, the box
slide established a new benchmark for the industry.

The solution, an alternative design for the M42 Marston Box Rail Bridge, was put
forward by the Mott MacDonald SYSTRA Design Joint Venture to reconsider the
structure, working closely with Freyssinet on the interfaces between temporary
and permanent works to ensure the bridge’s 120-year design life. There was a
multitude of tolerances to deal with, both in terms of how the structure would
settle and the impact on headroom for the M42 motorway and the high-speed rail
line above it.

![](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/10/hs2-vl-31659-m42mar_2-m42-marston-box_web-1024x576.jpg)

_Architect’s impression of the Marston Box rail bridge over the M42_

### An enduring legacy

Looking toward the future, SYSTRA and their partners have identified crucial
next steps to ensure enduring impact and continued progress. Plans are underway
to expand the implementation of the box slide method and two additional box
slides are Incorporate in delivery of Lots N1 and N2 of HS2; demonstrating the
viability and advantages of this innovative construction technique.

Collaboration and knowledge sharing remain the cornerstones of the operation’s
success. By fostering strategic partnerships and sharing expertise with industry
stakeholders, the project seeks to inspire similar breakthroughs in
infrastructure construction. The box slide exemplifies the achievements that can
be realised through collaboration, teamwork, and the amalgamation of diverse
talents and expertise.

The box slide set a new standard for construction practices by optimising
traffic flow during large-scale infrastructure projects.

![](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/10/mmc-scorecard-marston-box.png)

#### Modern methods of construction applied during the Marston box project

We collaborated with our supply chain partners, Freyssinet, to develop a
solution that reduced the impact on the Strategic Road Network (SRN) from 18
months of continuous traffic management to 10 days of full closure. This
solution also achieved a 25% reduction of CO2e from the baseline scheme design.

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