M6 north closed: traffic updates after accident between Preston and Lancaster

The M6 northbound has been closed in Lancashire after a lorry overturned and spilled fuel onto the carriageway.

The motorway is expected remain shut between Preston and Lancaster for most of Friday.

Highways 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.

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.

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).

“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.