Proof of No Harm of HS2 for Highways

Following confirmation that the project hasn’t damaged a highway in the county, in accordance with local reports the Buckinghamshire Council has apologized to High Speed 2 bosses.

According to the Bucks Free Press, the local authority claimed that the responsible for wear and tear to Moorfield Road in Denham are the contractors working on the £100bn rapid rail link.

HS2 is quoted as saying council surveys dating back to 2018 “clearly identified the poor quality of the carriageway prior to any main works being undertaken at this location”.

“We are pleased to be working together with Buckinghamshire Council on the resurfacing of Moorfield Road. All parties agree that the necessary work predates the project, but HS2 and contractor Align are happy to be delivering a long-term improvement of the road for the benefit of local residents,” said an HS2 spokesperson to NCE.

He added: “HS2 is always working to reduce our impact on residents, whether building specialist haul roads to reduce pressure on local roads, or reducing truck movements by using rail to deliver materials. If there is evidence that HS2 traffic has damaged roads outside our sites, our contractors will take responsibility for the repairs and the project will contribute to the cost of road maintenance due to HS2 construction traffic.”

Andrew Stephenson, HS2 Minister, visited construction sites in Buckinghamshire due to a constant rise in complaints in the area over the past two years.

In accordance with HS2’s independent construction commissioner Sir Mark Worthington’s figures among January and March a total of 501 complaints were received this year.

HS2’s Phase One Area South, which stretches from London to West Ruislip, is the target of more than half of all these complaints, and this area’s main works contractor is a joint venture of Costain and Skanska.

Buckingham MP Greg Smith said: “Every single day I and my team raise issues relating to the construction of HS2 with the Department for Transport, HS2 and its contractors.”

“The sheer level of failures reported to me on a daily basis by constituents and witnessed with my own eyes – from unacceptable handling of land acquisition, commercial compensation, road diversions, road surface failures, environmental damage, HGV movements off agreed routes – is seemingly endless,” added Mr. Smith.

Comments about Moorfield Road can be share with Buckinghamshire Council.