THE M62 was shut after a man died when he plunged from a landmark bridge.
The middle-aged Calderdale man had parked his car close to the Brown Cow bridge at Scammonden early yesterday morning.
Several horrified drivers saw him fall about 150ft from the bridge and land in the central reservation at 8.40am yesterday.
He is thought to have been killed instantly.
The motorway was shut in both directions while police investigated the circumstances surrounding the man's fall.
The motorway was re-opened shortly before midday when officers decided there were no suspicious circumstances.
The closure sparked huge traffic hold-ups on surrounding roads.
The M62 was closed from junction 24 at Ainley Top through to junction 22 at Ripponden.
Lorries heading eastbound from Manchester towards Leeds were diverted off the motorway at junction 21, Milnrow, before the long uphill stretch.
This was because the diversionary routes through Calderdale are better for handling larger vehicles.
Cars were allowed up to junction 22 at Ripponden and then diverted down the Calder Valley.
Traffic heading the other way used roads such as Manchester Road through Marsden and over the tops along with New Hey Road through Outlane.
