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The John Smeaton viaduct forms an important piece of the city’s £50m inner ring road  and will link to the new interchange at junction 4 of the M621 motorway. It is designed to improve travel times across the city and relieve congestion in Holbeck, Hunslet and south of the city centre.

The structure hopes to cut journey times

The 500 metre viaduct is a feat of modern engineering, that Leeds City Council have named after the renowned civil engineer, John Smeaton. The structure made up of steel beams, weighing 2,200 tonnes and up to 120 feet long and 6 feet deep, stretches over the existing road network from the River Aire to Jack Lane.

The beams have been made using a special type of weathering steel that will not need to be painted. They are made up of a composition that may look a rusty orange colour at first but over a period of time the steel will become a more muted brown colour. It is the first time that such a form of construction has been used in an urban environment and will reflect the industrial heritage of Hunslet.   

Andrew Carter at the naming ceremony

Councillor Andrew Carter, says: "The viaduct is an integral piece of the inner-ring road which will allow free flowing traffic across the city and help ease congestion in the city centre and surrounding areas."

Leeds' John Smeaton (1724 - 1792) is commonly regarded as the father of civil engineering.

The scheme has been designed by a partnership involving Leeds City Council, Mouchel and Carillion plc.