Major disruptions hit the M6 northbound near Birmingham city center on Thursday morning, November 14, as two lorries collided, creating significant delays for morning commuters. The crash, which occurred around 6:57 AM close to junction 6, the exit for Birmingham, led to three out of four lanes being closed. Authorities warned drivers to expect delays of up to 60 minutes, with the situation causing ripple effects on surrounding routes including the A38.
Traffic monitoring system INRIX reported severe delays due to the incident, specifying the congestion extended back to junction 5 at Castle Bromwich. National Highways West Midlands confirmed there were about five miles of queues as they worked to manage the aftermath of the crash. For many drivers heading to Birmingham city center, this was not just inconvenient—it was downright frustrating.
Live updates from the scene noted how vehicles were using the hard shoulder to inch past the stalled traffic, and things were likely to worsen as rush hour progressed. West Midlands Roads used X—formerly known as Twitter—to inform commuters of the "major disruption" affecting routes around the M6 northbound and A38 Spaghetti Junction.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was dispatched but detailed reports on injuries remained unclear initially. An ambulance was seen at the crash site, signaling the seriousness of the situation. Later reports indicated at least one person, the driver of one of the vehicles, had sustained injuries but was treated and discharged at the scene.
Images from traffic cameras painted the grim picture of halted vehicles stretching back miles, as frustrated drivers waited anxiously to continue their journeys. Motorists from nearby regions, such as Solihull and Coventry, were also expected to be affected, adding layers of complexity to the traffic nightmare.
Given the scale of the disruption, officials were quick to encourage drivers to find alternative routes if possible, especially those heading to the city center. Caution was advised as conditions were expected to only worsen as the hours passed and more commuters hit the road.
West Midlands Ambulance Service commented on the man involved, stating, “We were called at 6.51 AM to a road traffic collision involving multiple vehicles on the M6 between junctions 6 and 7... The driver received treatment at the scene.” While the individual’s injuries weren’t deemed serious, the incident itself was enough to cause considerable mayhem for drivers on the motorway.
National Highways periodically provided updates, reflecting the situation's slow improvement. By several reports, recovery work was underway, with lanes gradually reopening. Unfortunately for drivers, these lanes continued causing delays throughout the morning, resulting in the traffic conditions remaining precarious.
With the scene eventually cleared by around mid-morning, drivers were greeted with the welcome news of reopened lanes on the M6. Although normal traffic conditions were expected to resume between 10:45 and 11:00 AM, residual delays lingered, meaning commutes would still be impacted for some time.
Real-time traffic systems noted the significance of residual delays. One reported: “Traffic congestion and slow traffic due to earlier accident, two lorries and two cars involved on M6 northbound from J6 A38 Tyburn Road to J7 A34 Birmingham Road (Great Barr).”
Traffic cameras continued to show the aftermath of the incident, where heavy queues remained evident. Despite the reopening of all lanes, it would take time for the situation to fully stabilize. A spokesperson from National Highways expressed gratitude for drivers’ patience amid the chaos, reinforcing the need for care as commuters resumed their journeys.
The lorry crash not only disrupted morning travelers but also underscored the vulnerability of the M6 as one of the primary arteries connecting Birmingham to other regions. Continued vigilance and caution on the roads would remain key, ensuring situations like this could be minimized moving forward.
