A major incident unfolded on the M6 motorway during the Thursday morning rush hour, causing widespread travel chaos for commuters. A heavy goods vehicle overturned and subsequently burst into flames, leading to the complete closure of the southbound carriageway.
The dramatic incident occurred between Junction 26 for Orrell Interchange (M58) and Junction 25 for Bryn, bringing traffic to a standstill. Emergency services, including multiple fire engines, police units, and ambulance crews, rushed to the scene to tackle the blaze and manage the situation.
Emergency Response and Travel Advice
National Highways issued a severe alert, confirming the closure and warning motorists of significant delays. A spokesperson urgently advised drivers to avoid the area entirely and seek alternative routes. The organisation stated: "Emergency services including Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service are in attendance. National Highways traffic officers are also on scene assisting with traffic management."
Real-time traffic monitoring system Inrix reported: "All traffic being temporarily held due to overturned lorry on fire on M6 Southbound from J26 M58 (Orrell Interchange) to J25 A5080 (Bryn)."
Extent of the Disruption
The closure created a nightmare for morning commuters, with congestion building rapidly for several miles. The incident not only affected the M6 southbound but also caused knock-on delays on surrounding routes as drivers attempted to navigate around the closure.
Motorists already caught in the queue faced lengthy waits, with authorities unable to immediately provide an estimated time for reopening the carriageway. Recovery and clean-up operations were expected to continue for several hours following the extinguishing of the fire.
