Severe delays as M6 closed overnight for 18 hours

Rush hour traffic has been hit by severe delays in Lancashire after the M6 northbound was closed overnight and only recently reopened.

National Highways North West said a lorry had been involved in a collision on Monday evening and had come to rest on the central reservation between junctions 31 and 32 northbound by Preston.

The crash resulted in a large diesel spill, the agency said, which needed emergency resurfacing work.

All three lanes were closed northbound while lane four was closed on the southbound carriageway until shortly before 09:00 GMT.

National Highways said three lanes had re-opened, although lanes four in both directions would remain closed.

The agency said the resurfacing work had been completed overnight but the closure remained in place while repairs to barriers continued.

On Tuesday morning National Highways North West posted on X: "Severe delays of 2+ hours on approach.

"Expect heavy congestion and consider alternative routes."

Bus operator Stagecoach said the disruption meant bus services out of Preston and Chorley would be "severely delayed".

There were reports of some commuters having to abandon their vehicles in the surrounding areas and massive tailbacks.

Traffic monitoring site Inrix said motorists were being advised to leave the motorway at junction 31, follow the A59, the A5085 and the A6 to the M55 junction 1, and then follow the M55 eastbound to rejoin the M6 at junction 32.

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