Commuters and long-distance travellers are facing severe disruption this morning after emergency repair work forced lane closures on two major motorways. The M60 near Manchester and the M42 in the West Midlands have both been hit by significant delays, with National Highways warning of queues stretching for miles.
Major Disruption on Key Northern and Midlands Routes
The problems began on the M60 clockwise between Junction 8 for the M56 and M602 and Junction 12 for the M602 and Eccles. A closure of two lanes was necessary to allow for urgent repairs to the carriageway. This bottleneck has created a knock-on effect, causing congestion to build rapidly during the morning rush hour.
Travel monitoring system Inrix reported that the delays on the M60 were stretching journey times by up to 90 minutes for some drivers. The congestion was reported to be tailing back past Junction 7 for the A56 and Stockport. This has created a nightmare scenario for those trying to navigate around Greater Manchester.
Simultaneously, a separate incident is causing havoc on the M42 in the West Midlands. Here, two lanes are closed southbound between Junction 9 for the A446 and Curdworth and Junction 10 for the A5 and Tamworth. This closure is also for emergency repairs, leading to severe delays in that region.
National Highways Issues Severe Congestion Warning
National Highways, the government company responsible for England's motorways, has been actively updating travellers on the situation. They confirmed the lane closures on both motorways are due to necessary emergency maintenance work. For the M60, they stated the lanes are expected to remain closed until the repairs are completed, advising drivers to allow plenty of extra time for their journeys or to seek alternative routes if possible.
The organisation's live traffic map shows long sections of both motorways coloured dark red, indicating very slow-moving or stationary traffic. The advice from traffic officers is clear: the delays are substantial and are likely to persist through the morning peak travel period.
Alternative Routes and Driver Advice
With such significant hold-ups, drivers are being urged to consider other paths. For those affected on the M60, possible diversions include using the A-roads through Stockport and Salford, though these are also likely to be heavily congested. For M42 traffic, local A-roads around Sutton Coldfield and Tamworth may offer some relief, but delays are expected across the wider network as traffic seeks alternatives.
These simultaneous incidents on key north-west and midlands arteries highlight the fragility of the road network when unexpected repairs are required. The 90-minute delay warnings serve as a stark reminder of the impact such closures have on thousands of commuters, businesses, and freight movements. Drivers are advised to check live traffic updates via National Highways or local travel news before setting out.
