The John Smeaton Viaduct forms a key piece of the city’s £50m inner ring road jigsaw and will finally link entire road to the new interchange at junction 4 of the M621 motorway, improving travel times across the city and relieve congestion in Holbeck, Hunslet and the southern rim of the city centre.

Work on the inner ring road scheme started in May 2006 and is expected to open for motorists in October 2008.

The 500 metre viaduct is an impressive feat of modern engineering, which Leeds City Council has recognised by naming it after the renowned civil engineer, John Smeaton.

Smeaton designed the third Eddystone Lighthouse (1755-59) and essentially invented the profession of civil engineer.