M621 noise barrier

Latest updates

• 18 February 2021

  Work at junction 6

  The entry slip road at junction 6 westbound is currently closed due to an issue with the embankment in this location.

  The steep slope which contains granular material has degraded over time. So, to further stabilise the embankment we need to make the slopes more gradual.

  Since before Christmas we’ve been working on a solution which would keep disruption to a minimum but most importantly of all keep both residents and drivers safe.

  Unfortunately and unavoidably, this work has led to removal of trees along the embankment which we had originally planned to leave. This was done for two reasons, it prevents any further movement in the embankment and allows us to carry out this essential work safely.

  Work has now started on building a new retaining wall at the bottom of the slope and backfilling it upwards so the slope isn’t as steep. Creating the foundation for the wall is a noisy activity so we’d like to apologise in advance for any disruption this may cause.

  Our technical engineers have recommended that when backfilling this area, which is around 120metres long it is done in 14 sections to ensure that no further de-stabilisation occurs. We’ll also be installing new drainage and replacing the lighting that’s been removed.

  The slip road will remain closed until the slope stabilisation work has been completed and the barrier installed which is expected to be around November.

  To carry out this work, we’ve had to remove the safety barrier along the slip road. Without this it isn’t safe for traffic to use. We have looked at installing a temporary one but that would restrict us to working overnight, which would cause major disruption for residents living close by. 

  We understand this is frustrating but having traffic running along it while we’re carrying out this work will have a detrimental impact and delay work even further. We understand you might not see our contractors neither as they work down the slope but we are working as quickly and as safely as we can to get the work complete.

  In the meantime, we are working with Leeds City Council and councillors to come up with a plan for the compound area which is being used at the end of junction 7 exit slip road. In this area we plan to plant a large amount of trees to compensate for some of the ones we’ve removed at Blakeney Grove and also the four we’ve recently removed along the exit slip road at junction 7.

  While we are also still exploring the tree types and locations of where we can replant them around Blakeney Grove, this is proving to be a challenge due to the ground conditions. The measures we’re taking to stabilise the embankment, to ensure we install any vegetation or trees, we need to create holes in the granular fill. There isn’t a great deal of soil available neither for any roots to take hold and anything planted too large could cause issues in the long term, so we’re looking carefully into how this can be managed.

  We’ll keep residents updated as soon as we’re able to do so.

• 11 February 2021

  Work to start at junction 7

  We’re starting work to install the additional section of noise barrier on the exit slip road at junction 7 to reduce the noise impact for residents.

  Work is due to start on Monday 15 February and take around eight weeks to complete, weather and circumstances permitting.

  This will involve removing a small number of trees and debris to level the embankment down to the slip road and resurfacing the footpath running alongside.

  We know how important the trees are to residents and we’re very sorry that we’ve got remove them, but we can’t properly install the barrier without it.

  We’re working closely with Leeds City Council and your councillors on a plan for replanting the right number and the right species of trees in the right places following the noise barrier installation.

  We can’t do that until the barrier is complete and we can assess the ground areas available. We hope this offers some reassurance to you.

  To carry out the work at junction 7 we’ll need to fully close the exit slip road for one night on Monday 15 February to remove the trees safely.

  We’ll limit the use of noisy equipment to before midnight.

  We’ll close lane one of the exit slip road to carry out the rest of the work. 

  The footpath alongside the exit slip road will also be closed for safety while we carry out the work and then the resurfacing. There is an alternative route following Westbury Place North.

  We also have some bridge joint repair work on the five bridges between junctions 5 and 7 on the M621. Please visit our Yorkshire and North East maintenance schemes page to find out more information about this.

• 04 December 2020

  Work to remove narrow lanes to start shortly

  Over the coming weeks we’ll be starting to remove the temporary safety barrier, speed limit and narrow lanes from the M621 carriageway on both sides. This will be complete by Christmas.

  There will still be some closures on the entry slip road at junction 6 and on the exit slip road at junction 7 until the end of March and occasionally on the main carriageway while we complete the work.

  We’ll also be carrying out some high mast lighting repairs and replacements in the traffic management to avoid future disruptions.

  Blakeney Grove embankment stabilisation

  We’ve removed the trees and we’re now working on the stumps and roots. Then we’ll need to rebuild the embankment to make it stable. Following that we’ll be able to install the barrier, which we’re hoping will be complete by the end of March.

  We’re unable to replant mature trees on the new embankment due to the stability issues that we’re having to resolve but we are looking at other vegetation planting for this area. We won’t be able to provide any details on this until we have the noise and safety barrier fully installed.

  Parnaby Road planting

  We’re working with Leeds City Council’s Park and Ride scheme on their planting scheme at Parnaby Road. This is now likely to take place towards the end of the scheme to avoid frozen and waterlogged soil.

  Site compound junction 7

  The current site compound at the end of the exit slip road at junction 7 will be reduced in size around Christmas time. The area will then be used for storage until around March. Following this we’ll carry out a programme of landscaping and replanting.  

  Additional information

  The noise barrier is now due for completion by the end of March 2021 and has been modelled to give this area of the M621 the maximum protection we can provide when they’re all fully installed. The full benefit of the scheme may not be realised until the scheme is complete.

• 28 October 2020

  Work starts on the embankment near to Blakeney Grove

  We’re starting work on the section at Blakeney Grove on Monday 2 November. The properties here back directly on to the M621 so we want to let you know about the work we’ll need to do here.

  To safely and securely install the barrier we’ll need to stabilise the embankment which will mean removing the trees and the boundary fence along it. We understand the importance of retaining vegetation where possible and want to reassure that we only undertake this kind of work following topographical surveys and guidance from our environmental team.

  We will replant new trees in their place where permitted by the new embankment design and replace the boundary fence with a new one. We’ll do our best to do this as quickly and quietly as possible and keep you updated with our progress.

  The main stabilisation work and installation of the barrier will follow until early 2021, weather and circumstances permitting.

• 27 October 2020

  The results are in

  We’ve now received the results from the recent survey asking for your opinions on the colour of the noise barrier that we’re installing on the M621 between junctions 6 and 7. Many thanks to those of you who took time to complete and return the surveys.

  We apologise for the delay in providing this feedback, but we allowed an extra week for more of the 451 surveys that were posted to be completed and returned to ensure that we captured as many as possible.

  We received 45 postal copies of the survey and one single return via the website link which is a total of 46.

  The survey results show that the majority colour preferred by residents on the Parnaby Road side is olive green and the majority colour preferred by residents on the Westbury side is stone grey.

  In respect of the separate majority colour preferences split by area, we’ll make plans to re-paint the fence in situ at Parnaby Road to olive green and the new fence at Westbury will be installed in stone grey.

  We’ll be displaying a sample of each colour in the area shortly so residents can see what it will look like on the barrier.

  Work is still progressing well but the scheme end date has been forced back while we deal with numerous challenges such as; working to add the additional barrier section to the Westbury side and changing the working pattern to reduce noisy excavation overnight, unfortunately repainting the fence will add to the delay pushing us to early 2021.

• 21 September 2020

  Local engagement on barrier colour

  We’re asking residents living in the Parnaby and Westbury areas for their opinion on what colour the noise barrier should be in these locations.

  Residents will receive a survey which has 15 colours for them to pick from and select their preferred choice.

  View the colours.

  Once they have selected their preferred option on the survey and posted it back to us we’ll be able to start work on changing the colour if we need to.

  Should the majority choice be a different colour then the barrier at Parnaby Road will be repainted in-situ and we’ll install the barrier at the Westbury’s in the new colour.

  We’re only consulting on these two sections of barrier due to their close proximity to residents.

• 14 September 2020

  Excavation work starts on fifth section

  We’re carrying out excavation work on the fifth section on the clockwise exit slip road at junction 7. This work is being carried out during the day 8am until 6pm on Saturday and Sunday for eight weekends starting on Saturday 1 August. This is to minimise the impact on nearby residents while avoiding any delay in completing the scheme.

  We’re due to finish at the end of this year, this is because we’ve two additional sections of barrier along the route following feedback from residents at our public events. This includes the section at the bottom of the exit slip road at junction 7 and planning permission has been submitted to Leeds City Council so we can improve noise levels for those living at Westbury Grove.

  The anti-clockwise entry slip road at junction 6 is also still closed to allow us to carry out work in this location during the day. We’re currently carrying some maintenance work on the embankment. 

  We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your continued patience.