HS2 site readied for tunnelling beneath ancient woodland A High Speed 2 (HS2) site in Warwickshire is being prepared for the launch of a tunnel boring machine (TBM) which will dig under the area’s ancient woodland. Midlands-based construction firm Collins Earthworks has finished excavating the north portal site of Long Itchington Wood Tunnel, ready for the TBM’s launch. The company is contracted to HS2’s main works contractor BBV Joint Venture (Balfour Beatty Group and Vinci Construction), which is responsible for building the northern section of HS2 as it heads into Birmingham. Since April 2020, the Collins Earthworks team has excavated 300,000m² of soil, with the topsoil and subsoils stored and separated with a layer of straw, so they can be put back after the tunnel has been built.