Motorists faced significant delays this morning on the M60 Motorway after a four-car crash sparked chaos during rush hour.
The collision occurred near junction 24 at Denton Island, causing two lanes to close and traffic queues extending beyond junction 23 at Ashton-under-Lyne. Drivers heading toward the Daisy Nook area, particularly those on the route toward Oldham, also reported congestion.
According to updates from the traffic information service, inrix, there were reports of "queueing traffic and two lanes closed due to accident on M60 clockwise after J24 A57 (Denton Island)." National Highways issued warnings to motorists, advising them to expect severe congestion with delays estimated at around 60 minutes.
Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, representatives from National Highways confirmed the lane closures and highlighted the situation. They stated, "Two of three lanes have been closed following the four-vehicle collision," and shared footage showing the backup of traffic.
Initially, two lanes remained closed for approximately two hours, leading to heavy traffic as vehicles approached the scene of the accident. Motorists caught in the congestion were urged to allow extra time for their travels.
The situation escalated with another reported disturbance on the motorway, resulting in additional lane closures between junction 16 at Clifton and junction 15 for the M61. This complication added to the chaotic scenes as drivers struggled to navigate the delays.
A spokesperson from National Highways acknowledged the troublesome conditions, writing, "2 of 4 lanes closed on the #M60 in #GreaterManchester anti-clockwise between J16 #Clifton and J15 #Bolton due to a broken down vehicle. Please allow extra time for your journeys, thank you for your patience."
Despite the challenges motorists faced this morning, later reports confirmed all lanes on the M60 near Denton Island have since reopened, providing some relief to drivers. Authorities continue to monitor traffic conditions to prevent similar occurrences.