Colne Valley Viaduct Completion.

Event Works

Client: Align JV

Project: Colne Valley Viaduct Completion Celebration Event


The brief: In September 2024, HS2 reached a historic milestone with the completion of the Colne Valley Viaduct deck, the longest rail bridge in the UK. This monumental achievement was to be marked with a high-profile celebration event, designed to honour the incredible efforts of the engineering teams and showcase the project’s final completion. The event was to be held in an active construction site, requiring innovative planning to create a safe yet engaging experience for all attendees.

Hosting a large-scale event in a live construction environment posed significant logistical challenges. A key requirement was creating a segregated, PPE-free zone while ensuring safety standards were met. Additionally, unpredictable September weather threatened the outdoor setting.
Align JV
Colne Valley Viaduct Completion Celebration Event
Colne Valley Viaduct Completion Celebration Event

The solution: A striking event space featuring a large LED wall, a stage set atop a mound of rubble, and a robust infrastructure to accommodate media coverage from far and wide and 250 guests.

We worked closely with the working foremen onsite and created a purpose-built event space was designed within the site, with clear segregation between construction areas and guest zones. We penned off a dedicated media pen welcomed 20 media representatives, ensuring prime coverage while maintaining operational efficiency.

There was live food and drinks and an energetic music playlist provided an engaging, celebratory atmosphere, reinforcing appreciation for the workforce’s dedication.

Key speeches from project leaders and senior lead3rship from the construction companies involved highlighted the viaduct’s significance, and press footage, live and after the fact ensured that the event’s impact extended beyond those present.

The Result

The event successfully celebrated the completion of the Colne Valley Viaduct, reinforcing Align JV and HS2’s commitment to engineering excellence and sustainable infrastructure. It received widespread media coverage, showcasing the remarkable achievement and the hard work of the team behind this history-making project.
Colne Valley Viaduct Completion Celebration Event
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