WARRINGTON, England — Drivers faced significant delays on Tuesday morning after a collision closed the M6 motorway in both directions near Junction 20 in Cheshire, National Highways confirmed.
The incident occurred in the early hours at the Lymm Interchange, where the M6 meets the M56 near Warrington. National Highways reported the northbound carriageway closed around 3:50 a.m. due to a collision, with emergency services on scene. The southbound carriageway was later closed as well. Traffic was diverted via the exit and entry slip roads at Junction 20.
Initial updates indicated 20-minute delays and about three miles of congestion on the approach, though queues lengthened as the morning rush hour developed. Traffic monitoring service Inrix reported southbound traffic building back to the Croft Interchange at Junction 21, with northbound congestion extending toward Junction 19 near Knutsford. Delays also affected the M62 as motorists sought alternative routes toward Manchester.
Junction 20 is a key interchange linking the M6 to the M56, which serves north Wales, Runcorn, Ellesmere Port and Manchester Airport. CCTV footage showed lengthy tailbacks in the area. National Highways advised drivers to check live traffic information and allow extra journey time.
Details on the number of vehicles involved, any injuries or the precise cause of the collision had not been released by mid-morning. Emergency services remained at the scene while recovery and clearance work continued. National Highways expected the southbound closure related to the incident to clear later in the morning, though timelines remained fluid.
The M6 is one of Britain’s busiest motorways, carrying heavy commercial and private traffic between the Midlands, North West England and Scotland. Incidents at major interchanges such as Junction 20 frequently cause widespread disruption across the regional road network.
Motorists were urged to follow diversion signs, use official traffic apps or the National Highways website for the latest updates, and avoid the area if possible. Police and highways teams continued to manage the scene as investigations into the circumstances of the crash got under way. Further updates were expected as the carriageways reopened.