Commuters faced travel chaos on Wednesday evening as a serious multi-vehicle collision brought sections of two major Northern motorways to a standstill, creating massive delays during rush hour.
Major Incident on Key Routes
Emergency services rushed to the scene between junctions 8 and 9 of the M62 eastbound near Birchwood following reports of a significant collision involving multiple vehicles. The incident occurred at approximately 4:30 PM, coinciding with the busiest travel period of the day.
National Highways confirmed the severity of the situation, stating: "We have multiple reports of a collision involving several vehicles on the M62 eastbound between J8 and J9. All traffic is being temporarily held while emergency services attend the scene."
Cascading Delays Across Region
The closure created a domino effect across the region's road network:
- Eastbound queues stretching back to junction 7 at Rainhill
- Delays of up to 60 minutes reported at peak
- Congestion affecting connecting routes including the A57(M)
- Significant impact on Manchester-bound traffic
Motorists found themselves trapped in stationary traffic for extended periods, with many taking to social media to report the gridlock conditions.
Emergency Response and Recovery
Multiple emergency service vehicles attended the scene, including police, ambulance crews, and traffic officers. Recovery operations were complicated by the number of vehicles involved and the need for thorough investigation at the scene.
Traffic cameras showed extensive queues building rapidly as the evening progressed, with National Highways warning drivers to expect significant delays and consider alternative routes where possible.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of key transport corridors during peak travel times and serves as a reminder for drivers to maintain safe following distances, particularly during busy periods.
