Commuters faced travel chaos on one of Manchester's busiest motorways this evening as a serious multi-vehicle collision brought the M60 to a grinding halt during peak rush hour.
Evening Commute Disrupted
The incident occurred on the clockwise carriageway between junction 12 for the M602/Eccles Interchange and junction 13 for the A575/Worsley, creating a perfect storm of delays for thousands of drivers trying to make their way home.
Emergency services rushed to the scene following reports of the multi-vehicle pile-up, with traffic cameras showing stationary vehicles stretching back for miles as the evening commute descended into gridlock.
Severe Delays and Long Queues
Motorists were warned to expect delays of up to 90 minutes as traffic backed up for approximately five miles. The congestion stretched back beyond junction 11 at the Barton High Level Bridge, creating a domino effect across the region's road network.
Travel updates indicated:
- Five-mile queues on the clockwise carriageway
- Average delay times of 90 minutes
- All lanes blocked temporarily while emergency services worked at the scene
- Significant knock-on effects on surrounding A-roads
Alternative Routes Advised
Highways England urged drivers to avoid the area entirely if possible, suggesting alternative routes through Manchester's suburban road network. However, with the incident occurring during the busiest travel period of the day, many drivers found themselves trapped in the growing queues.
Traffic officers worked tirelessly to clear the scene and manage the congestion, but the severity of the incident meant recovery operations took several hours to complete.
Rush Hour Impact
The timing of the collision couldn't have been worse for Manchester's commuters. The M60 orbital motorway serves as a critical artery for the Greater Manchester area, with the clockwise carriageway particularly busy with traffic heading towards Bolton, Bury, and the northern sections of the city region.
As emergency services dealt with the immediate aftermath, frustrated motorists took to social media to report standing still for over an hour, with some abandoning their journeys altogether.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly Manchester's road network can become paralysed during peak periods, with this evening's events likely to affect travel plans well into the night.
