A key stretch of the M62 motorway in West Yorkshire was forced to close on Tuesday morning after a piece of construction machinery broke down directly on the carriageway, causing significant disruption for thousands of commuters.
Incident Details and Location
The closure affects the M62 at Huddersfield, specifically within the area of Junction 24. The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, 20 January 2026, following overnight roadworks. According to National Highways, a vehicle associated with the roadworks suffered a mechanical failure and could not be moved, necessitating a full closure for recovery.
Travel Chaos During Peak Hours
With the shutdown coinciding with the morning rush hour, severe delays quickly built up on all approach roads. National Highways confirmed that the road will remain closed until the recovery operation is fully completed. In the meantime, traffic is being diverted via the exit and entry slip roads at the affected junction, but long queues are inevitable.
Drivers heading towards Manchester or Leeds are being urged to allow extra time for their journeys or to seek alternative routes if possible. The disruption is expected to impact local A-roads as drivers attempt to navigate around the closed motorway section.
Ongoing Situation and Advice
This remains a live traffic incident. Recovery crews are on scene working to remove the broken-down machinery, but there is no estimated time for the motorway to reopen. Commuters are advised to check live traffic updates before setting out. The closure underscores the vulnerability of major transport corridors to unexpected equipment failure, particularly during critical travel windows.
Further updates will be provided by National Highways and local traffic authorities as the situation develops.
