Jude Bellingham HS2 railway bridge in Birmingham gets the go-ahead - but not everyone is happy

A railway bridge in Birmingham named after Jude Bellingham is set to built after plans were approved by Birmingham City Council.

The huge 150-metre-long ‘Bellingham bridge’ will dominate the skyline in the player’s home city when it is constructed as part of the controversial HS2 high-speed railway.

The striking designs for the bridge were released in December during the World Cup 2022 where Stourbridge-born Bellingham starred for England.

The plans show a 25-metre-high curved truss which fill form part of the section of viaduct leading to Birmingham’s flagship Curzon Street Station. HS2 say the new bridge will ‘create a new icon on the city’s skyline’ and ‘celebrate the area’s industrial heritage’.

Senior Project Manager for HS2, David King, who is working with HS2’s contractor Balfour Beatty Vinci on the construction of this section of the railway, said: “This is great news for the team delivering this section of the railway in Birmingham.

HS2 Ltd’s design director, Kay Hughes said: “Our design ambition for the Curzon 2 bridge is to create an elegant, iconic structure, fitting of its prominence on the Birmingham skyline, creating a legacy for HS2 and contributing positively to the city’s identity day and night.

“The curved truss design celebrates Birmingham’s industrial heritage, and we’re pleased that we’ve been able to engage a prominent artist to work with our architects to create a distinctive lighting installation, which will be a striking addition to Birmingham’s city skyline.”

What are people saying about Bellingham bridge?

The bridge has received a mixed response on social media.

Not all Brummies are happy with the decision - especially Aston Villa fans. Dave Bradley wrote: “We’re all England fans at the minute obviously but naming it after a player from our arch rivals doesn’t sit right with me. They should have chosen a name to reflect every Brummie. He’s from Stourbridge anyway.”

Craig Taylor added: “This is a joke. He only played for Blues for a season. If we’re doing this, where is the Jack Grealish underpass?”

But Oliver George commented: “This is class. Regardless of who you support, you can’t deny he’s one of the biggest talents this city has ever produced. It’s only right to honour him.”