Motorists across northwest England faced a cascade of travel chaos over the weekend of October 19 and 20, 2025, as two major motorways—the M56 and M62—were brought to a standstill by separate multi-vehicle collisions. The incidents, which unfolded on consecutive days, triggered severe delays, widespread congestion, and a flurry of emergency service activity, leaving thousands of travelers stranded or rerouted and highlighting the fragility of the region’s transportation arteries.
On the morning of October 20, the westbound carriageway of the M56 ground to a halt between Junctions 12 and 14 following a dramatic crash involving nine vehicles. According to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, crews responded swiftly to the scene, assisted by National Highways, police, and paramedics. “Crews were called to a road traffic collision involving nine vehicles on the M56, between junctions 12 and 14. A full road closure was put in place while the incident was dealt with,” a spokesperson for the fire service told the BBC.
The impact of the crash was immediate and far-reaching. Traffic was temporarily held at around 7:50 AM, with the motorway soon described as 'blocked' by traffic monitoring service Inrix, which reported 'severe delays.' Queues on the westbound side rapidly extended back to Junction 11 and, as the morning wore on, stretched as far as Junction 10. The eastbound carriageway was not spared either, as onlookers slowed to gawk at the scene, causing congestion from Frodsham all the way past the M53 turnoff.
For motorists caught in the gridlock, patience wore thin as the minutes ticked by. National Highways North-West took to social media to plead for calm, posting, “Please be patient, we'll try and get you moving again soon.”
Behind the scenes, emergency responders worked methodically. Firefighters carried out checks on all vehicles, using a thermal imaging camera to scan for hotspots, and ensured that every person involved was safely accounted for. Paramedics gave precautionary checks to those at the scene, but, in a fortunate turn, there were no reports of serious injuries. By 8:05 AM, crews had cleared debris from two lanes, allowing one lane to reopen and start filtering traffic through. Firefighters left the scene around 9 AM, and the incident was handed over to National Highways for the final clean-up and traffic management.
The ripple effects of the M56 chaos weren’t limited to the roads. Rail passengers faced their own frustrations, as services on Transport for Wales northbound between Shrewsbury and Chester were suspended due to signal problems at Wrexham. Meanwhile, further south, the M6 northbound was partially blocked at Junction 19 due to an obstruction, compounding the headaches for anyone attempting to navigate Cheshire’s already beleaguered transport network.
While the M56 incident was still fresh in the minds of commuters, another major disruption unfolded just a day earlier on the M62 eastbound near Junction 22 for Denshaw, on the outskirts of Greater Manchester. According to the Manchester Evening News, the collision occurred on October 19 and involved multiple vehicles. National Highways reported at 3 PM that traffic was at a standstill between Junctions 21 and 22, with approximately two miles of congestion and delays building rapidly.
Images from the scene, shared by both the Manchester Evening News and The Sun, painted a stark picture: emergency workers in high-visibility jackets moving among stationary cars, and a queue of traffic stretching for miles down the closed motorway. National Highways Yorkshire confirmed via social media, “Traffic is being held on the M62 eastbound within J22 (#Denshaw) following a collision involving multiple vehicles. We're working to reopen some lanes. Delays are building quickly on approach, approx. 2 miles of congestion.”
The situation was complicated by a significant hazard—a large fuel spillage across lanes one and two. Emergency crews detected the leak soon after arriving, and National Highways moved quickly to contain the spill and prevent further incidents. As a result, traffic was released only in one lane, while two lanes remained closed for cleanup and investigation. Delays of up to 50 minutes were reported, with congestion at times reaching three miles long. Motorists were warned to expect lengthy waits, and some found themselves stuck in their vehicles for much of the afternoon.
Gradually, as emergency services cleared the scene and made the area safe, more lanes were reopened. By the evening, Traffic England predicted that normal flow would resume between 7:15 and 7:30 PM, though for many, the day’s travel plans had already been upended. The Manchester Evening News reported that, “One lane was reopened, leaving just one lane closed. There are currently delays of 50 minutes.” The Sun added, “Drivers are currently facing two miles of congestion on the busy road as National Highways works to reopen some of the motorway’s lanes.”
Both incidents underscore the challenges faced by emergency services and highway agencies in responding to multi-vehicle collisions on Britain’s busiest roads. The combination of high traffic volumes, narrow carriageways, and the unpredictable nature of accidents means that even a relatively minor incident can snarl up the network for hours. Add in complications like fuel spills or signal failures, and the domino effect quickly spreads to surrounding roads and rail lines.
For those caught up in the delays, the experience was a reminder of how quickly a routine journey can turn into an ordeal. Social media was abuzz with frustrated posts from stranded drivers, many of whom expressed gratitude for the efforts of emergency crews but also vented about the lack of real-time updates and the difficulty of finding alternate routes. On the M56, National Highways’ plea for patience was echoed by local authorities, who tried to keep the public informed through frequent posts and traffic bulletins.
In the aftermath, officials have called for renewed attention to motorway safety, particularly as the autumn months bring longer nights and unpredictable weather. While the prompt and coordinated response of emergency services ensured there were no fatalities or serious injuries in these incidents, the disruptions highlight the need for continued investment in infrastructure, better real-time communication, and ongoing driver education to reduce the risk and impact of future accidents.
As traffic finally began to flow again on both the M56 and M62, weary travelers resumed their journeys, perhaps a little more aware of the delicate balance that keeps Britain’s roads moving—and how quickly that balance can tip.
