A major incident has forced the complete closure of the M1 motorway in both directions at Leicester Forest East services, creating severe traffic disruption across the Leicester area. The shutdown affects the stretch between Junction 21 and Junction 22, with police urgently advising motorists to avoid the area and seek alternative routes immediately.
Extensive Traffic Delays and Congestion
Traffic monitoring systems reveal heavy delays building rapidly around the closure zone. Significant congestion is reported at the junction with the M69 and Braunstone Way, where vehicles are moving at a crawl. Additionally, traffic has come to a standstill on the Leicester Western Bypass as it approaches the M1, compounding the gridlock.
The blockage extends both north and south of the closed section on the M1 itself, with long queues forming in each direction. Drivers are experiencing considerable wait times, and authorities warn that the situation may worsen during peak travel periods.
Official Police Statement and Guidance
Leicestershire Police have officially confirmed the closure through a statement posted on social media platform X. A police spokesperson detailed that the M1 is closed in both the northbound and southbound lanes at Leicester Forest East services between Junction 21 and Junction 21a.
The force explicitly instructed drivers to find alternate routes and promised that further updates would follow as the incident develops. The closure is expected to remain in place until the situation is resolved and the motorway is deemed safe for travel.
Emergency services are currently at the scene managing the incident, though specific details regarding the nature of the event have not yet been disclosed. Motorists are strongly encouraged to plan their journeys carefully, check live traffic updates, and allow extra time for travel due to the widespread delays affecting multiple key roadways in the region.
