M6 north closed: traffic updates after accident between Preston and Lancaster
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
The M6 northbound has been closed in Lancashire after a lorry overturned and spilled fuel onto the carriageway.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHighways bosses said that a big amount of diesel and oil has spilled onto the carriageway, after the accident at 2.30am.
National Highways added the road surface needs to be cleared and repaired and the motorway inspected before it can reopen.
Traffic is currently queued back to junction 29 at Bamber Bridge, with vehicles now exiting the motorway at that junction and heading into Preston.
Motorists joining from the M61 are now queuing for some distance due to the delays.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe A6 northbound towards Garstang is also facing heavy delays with traffic coming off of the M6 at junction 32 and heading north towards Lancaster.
A diversion route has been put in place. You can find the route here.
At 10.30am, traffic website Inrix was reporting at least seven miles of traffic on the M6 northbound approach as drivers are diverted off the motorway.
It says: “M6 Northbound closed severe delays, queueing traffic for seven miles due to overturned lorry and recovery work from J32 M55 (Broughton Interchange) to J33 A6 Preston Lancaster Road (Lancaster South / Garstang).
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“Congestion to J30 (M61 interchange). Also seeing delays through Leyland, Lostock Hall, Preston and Fulwood. With traffic leaving the motorway early at J29.”
And at 1.30pm Highways tweeted that it is estimated delays were around 90 minutes - but some motorists said they had been stuck in queues for double that length of time.
One shared a photo of the lorry still apparently on the carriageway at 2.30pm.
And there have been warnings the M6 could stay closed until the evening. As of 3.30pm – 12 hours after the crash - efforts are ongoing to recover the HGV and carry out repairs to the carriageway.
M6 motorists are being diverted as follows:
- Exit M6 J32 (Blackpool), onto M55
- Follow M55 westbound to J1 Exit M55 at J1 (Broughton) and take third roundabout exit, A6 Garstang
- Follow A6 northbound through Broughton, Barton, Bilsborrow, Garstang, to M6 J33 (Lancaster South), rejoin M6 northbound
You can also follow lep.co.uk for a live blog from the scene.
Travel updates as northbound M6 closed
Key Events
- M6 Northbound closed from J32 M55 ( Broughton Interchange) to J33 A6 Preston Lancaster Road (Lancaster South / Garstang).
- Congestion to J29 (M61, M65 interchange). Also seeing delays through Leyland, Lostock Hall, Preston and Fulwood.
- M6 shut since 2.30am and is expected to remain closed for some time for recovery and clean up.
- M6 northbound reopens between junctions 32 and 33
M6 closure leading to delays on roads in Lancaster and Preston
- Slow traffic on A6 South Road onto King Street into town around the one way system towards Greyhound Bridge.
- Very slow traffic on A6 Lancaster Road in to and through Carnforth. Travel time is four minutes
- Slow traffic on A5085 Blackpool Road around Deepdale Retail Park. Travel time is eight minutes.
- Also seeing delays through Leyland, Lostock Hall, Preston and Fulwood. With traffic leaving the motorway early at J29
M6 delays grow, M61 queues, A6 delays
M6 traffic is queuing back to Bamber Bridge and junction 29, with most traffic now leaving the motorway at that junction and heading into Preston.
Motorists joining from the M61 are now queueing for some distance due to the delays. The A6 northbound towards Garstang is also facing heavy delays with traffic coming off of the M6 at junction 32 and heading north towards Lancaster.
Road users are advised to follow the hollow circle diversion symbols on road signs.
- Exit M6 J32 (Blackpool), onto M55
- Follow M55 westbound to J1 Exit M55 at J1 (Broughton) and take third roundabout exit, A6 Garstang
- Follow A6 northbound through Broughton, Barton, Bilsborrow, Garstang, to M6 J33 (Lancaster South), rejoin M6 northbound
More details on the diversions here.
The road has been closed since around 02:30 Friday morning is expected to remain closed for some time.
This is due to to an overturned lorry.
A large amount of diesel and oil has spilled onto the carriageway and this will need to be cleared and the road surface inspected for damage before reopening.