M621: New footage shows super-span gantry lifted into place over Leeds motorway

Towering over both carriageways, the new structures - named super-span gantries as they span the road in both directions instead of just one - mark a step forward in National Highways’ £49.8m scheme of major improvements to the key West Yorkshire route.

The timelapse video, which you can view above, shows one of the structures being installed between junction 2 and junction 3, adjacent to the junction 2a slip road. Another super-span gantry has been installed at junction 2 of the M621 near Elland Road.

Sal Hopkinson, Project Manager at National Highways, said: “We are delighted that the gantries have been safely lifted into place. We hugely appreciate everybody’s patience while we have worked to install these.” 

The gantry, which will be used to hold directional signs above the motorway, is supported by two reinforced concrete foundations.  It was installed using a 200-tonne and a 50-tonne crane. With both cranes working together, the team installing the gantry was able to work faster and more efficiently and open the road sooner.

One of the cranes lifted the legs of the gantry into place, while the other was able to install the beam.

The new structures are part of the major improvements to the M621 between junctions 1 and 7. Once the M621 upgrade is complete, traffic will move much more smoothly and safely, especially during peak times.

Updates on the M621 improvements are shared on the scheme’s dedicated webpage and via X (Twitter) @HighwaysYORKS.