Overview
- National Highways says the M40 southbound remains closed between J8A (Oxford) and J6 (Watlington) after a tanker-van collision spilled bitumen on Monday night, with no injuries reported.
- Specialist teams were unable to pump the remaining load from the damaged tanker overnight, and engineers confirm the hardened spill has damaged lanes that must be planed and resurfaced under closure.
- Drivers are following signed diversions of about nine miles, with officials warning of significant delays and indicating the route could stay shut until later this evening before further overnight works.
- Greater Manchester routes faced fresh rush-hour holds on Tuesday: an overturned vehicle stopped M60 traffic between J26 and J27 before lanes reopened with residual queues, and the M62 near the Eccles Interchange saw multi-lane closures.
- Police investigations continue into recent serious collisions, including a confirmed fatality involving a pedestrian on the M6 near J19 (Knutsford) and a reported death on the M66 near Simister Island, with appeals for witnesses and dashcam footage.