People living near a massive new HS2 viaduct in Birmingham have described a "daily hell," as the 150-metre structure towers over their homes and neighbourhoods.
A 'Godzilla-like' Presence in Duddeston
The Bellingham Bridge, named after football star Jude Bellingham, is set to be one of the tallest structures on the HS2 route. Already dominating the skyline near Birmingham City Centre, locals compare it to having "the Forth Bridge plonked in your garden."
Residents in nearby flats say their lives have been profoundly affected. Julian Paul, 39, told of the bridge looming "over our homes like a metal Godzilla," blocking sunlight and creating a permanent building site atmosphere. He expressed serious concerns about future noise and vibrations from high-speed trains passing perilously close to properties.
Disruption and an 'Eyesore' Skyline
The impact extends beyond the visual. Raheema, 25, described the parking situation as a "nightmare," with spaces taken by HS2 workers and students. She even uses AI tools to edit the bridge out of her social media photos. Traffic congestion has spiked, with one resident reporting a two-hour Christmas journey for a normally ten-minute drive.
Another anonymous local, an Aston Villa fan, added a sporting grievance to the practical complaints, lamenting a bridge named for a former Birmingham City player overshadowing their home. Long-time resident Parvaiz Rehman, with 30 years in the area, dismissed HS2 as a "total waste of time and money" and the view as a "real eyesore."
HS2's Vision Versus Local Reality
In contrast to residents' experiences, HS2 Ltd and its designers champion the structure. A spokesperson highlighted the project's economic promise, citing a study predicting £10 billion in benefits for the West Midlands economy and around 30,000 new jobs over a decade. They also pointed to modern noise barriers designed to minimise disturbance.
The design team, a joint venture including Mott MacDonald and Weston Williamson + Partners, intends the Curzon 2 viaduct to become "an iconic part of Birmingham’s skyline" that references the city's industrial past. Construction on the bridge began in Autumn 2023, and it is the tallest feature on the one-mile viaduct stretch into the city.
For now, locals like office worker James Williams, who has watched the change for a decade, draw parallels with the upheaval caused by the Eurostar in Kent. As the 4,000-tonne structure is slowly moved into place, the community beneath it waits, hoping the promised long-term gains will one day outweigh their current daily grind.
