WEST YORKSHIRE â Part of the M62 remained closed on Sunday afternoon after police and other emergency services were called to a concern-for-safety incident involving a person on a bridge.
LATEST UPDATE â 3:53pm BST: The westbound carriageway has reopened, but the M62 remains closed eastbound between Junction 22 and Junction 24. Drivers are still being told to avoid the area and allow extra time.
The disruption affects the trans-Pennine motorway between Junction 22 for Denshaw and Rishworth Moor and Junction 24 for Huddersfield and Ainley Top. The closure was first reported at approximately 3:30pm on September 20.
A closure is currently in place on the M62 in both directions between jcts 22 and 24 while emergency services respond to a concern for safety incident involving a person on a bridge.
— West Yorkshire Police (@WestYorksPolice) September 20, 2026
The eastbound side is closed from jct 22 and the westbound side is closed from jct 24. pic.twitter.com/uhMIpV6Sda
West Yorkshire Police confirmed that the motorway was initially closed in both directions while officers worked to resolve an incident involving a person on a bridge.
The force said emergency services were responding to âa concern for safety incident involving a person on a bridge.â
Police added that motorists should avoid the area and use alternative routes where possible, asking those caught in the disruption to remain patient while officers attempted to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.
Westbound M62 reopens but eastbound closure continues
The westbound side, which had been stopped from Junction 24, later reopened. However, National Highways said the eastbound carriageway remained shut from Junction 22, leaving traffic unable to continue towards Huddersfield through the affected section.
At the latest update, delays were estimated at around 30 minutes on the eastbound approach. Westbound traffic was facing delays of approximately 67 minutes, despite that side of the motorway having reopened.
Traffic monitoring reports described queues on the eastbound side from Junction 22 at the A672 to Junction 24 at the A629. Congestion was also reported on surrounding roads as motorists attempted to find another route.
Police have not released the identity, age or condition of the person involved. There has also been no official confirmation of any injuries, arrests or criminal investigation. No estimated time has been provided for reopening the eastbound carriageway.
The wording used by police indicates that this is a welfare-related emergency rather than a road collision. Claims describing the closure as a crash would therefore be inaccurate unless authorities issue a further statement.
Closure is separate from planned Scammonden Bridge work
The emergency closure should not be confused with planned roadworks in the same stretch of the M62. National Highways is carrying out parapet replacement and resurfacing work around Scammonden Bridge, between Junctions 22 and 24.
However, the agencyâs latest published schedule says the motorway is due to remain open for planned works from September 21 to 25, with the next eastbound overnight closures scheduled for September 28 to October 2. Sunday afternoonâs shutdown was caused by the police-led incident, not scheduled construction.
The disruption follows another serious road incident in northern England, after two people died in a crash on White Rose Way in Doncaster.
Anyone planning to use the M62 between Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire should check live traffic information before travelling. This remains a developing incident and the closure status may change at short notice.
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