Commuters faced travel chaos on Tuesday afternoon as a serious multi-vehicle collision brought the M60 motorway to a standstill near Manchester.
The incident occurred on the clockwise carriageway between junction 10 for Barton Bridge and junction 11 for Preston, creating massive tailbacks that stretched for miles during the busy afternoon period.
Emergency Response and Lane Closures
Emergency services rushed to the scene following reports of the collision, with multiple lanes closed to deal with the incident. Traffic cameras showed stationary vehicles stretching back towards junction 9, with some drivers reporting delays of up to 90 minutes.
North West Motorway Police confirmed they were dealing with a "multi-vehicle collision" and urged drivers to avoid the area if possible.
Alternative Routes Advised
Motorists were advised to seek alternative routes as the congestion continued to build. The affected section of the M60 forms part of Manchester's orbital motorway, a critical route for commuters and freight traffic.
Travel time through the area, which would normally take just a few minutes, extended to over an hour and a half at the peak of the disruption.
Real-Time Impact
- Severe delays on M60 clockwise between J10 and J11
- Multiple lanes closed for emergency response
- Queueing traffic stretching back to junction 9
- Average delay times of 90 minutes reported
- Alternative routes experiencing increased congestion
National Highways issued an alert warning drivers of significant delays and advising them to allow extra journey time if travel through the area was essential.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of Manchester's key transport arteries to disruption, with the M60 being particularly prone to congestion during peak hours.
