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Police Incident Shuts M61 as M5 Crash and M6 Collision Snarl Motorway Traffic

National Highways reports diversions, with residual delays continuing under active emergency response.

Overview

  • The M61 in Lancashire remains shut in both directions between J8 (Chorley) and J6 (Horwich) under a police-led operation with no estimated reopening time.
  • Signed diversion routes are in place, with southbound drivers following hollow-square symbols and northbound drivers following solid-triangle markers, and National Highways directs motorists to trafficengland.com, regional X feeds, or 0300 123 5000 for live updates.
  • On the M5 northbound between J22 (Burnham-on-Sea) and J21 (Weston-super-Mare), a multi-vehicle crash left only one lane open, producing delays of up to three hours and queues stretching roughly nine miles.
  • On the M6 northbound near J15–J16, all lanes have reopened after a multi-vehicle collision, though drivers still face about 45 minutes of residual delay after earlier traffic holds.
  • Separately, a car fire on the M5 southbound between J2 and J3 closed two lanes during the response, with West Midlands Fire Service reporting no injuries.