Drivers have been warned to expect delays on a major motorway this afternoon after a vehicle crash caused traffic to crawl to just 3mph.
The M1 in Leicestershire has been closed in both directions between J20 (Lutterworth) and J21 (M69, Leicester) due to a serious collision.
Emergency services, including Leicestershire Police, are in attendance with National Highways Traffic Officers on site to assist with traffic management.
Updating drivers, National Highways shared: “Traffic caught within the northbound closure is being turned around. Please await instructions. We're hoping the southbound will reopen shortly.”
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According to National Highways data, normal traffic conditions are expected to return between 5:45pm and 6pm later today.
The transport agency has now put in place several diversion routes, with drivers urged to follow them out of the traffic area.
The diversion instructs drivers northbound to follow the hollow square diversion symbol, which takes drivers off the M1 northbound at Junction 20 and instructs them to take the first exit (west) onto the A4303.
From here, they should continue along the A4303 to the A4303/A426 Lutterworth Road/Rugby Road Roundabout and then take the second exit from the roundabout.
National Highways expects normal traffic conditions to return by 6pm later today
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
Drivers need to continue westbound along the A4303 passing through a further two roundabouts at Coventry Road and Magna Park to the A5/A4303 Cross in Hand Roundabout. They should then take the fourth exit from the Roundabout and proceed north along the A5.
Drivers should continue northbound along the A5 Watling Street for approximately 10.3km to the A5/M69 Junction 1 Interchange. At the Interchange, take the fifth exit onto the M69 northbound.
Motorists then need to continue along the M69 northbound for approximately 14.5km to M69 Junction 2/M1 Junction 20 and rejoin the M1 Northbound.
As for southbound diverted traffic, National Highways has advised drivers to follow the hollow square diversion symbol.
Traffic is currently operating at 3mph
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
The diversion advises drivers to exit the M1 southbound at Junction 21 and take the third exit (south/west) onto the M69. Continue south/westbound on the M69 for approximately 14.5km to M69 Junction 1/A5 Interchange.
At M69 Junction 1, drivers need to exit the motorway and take the first exit (left) onto the A5 southbound.
Continue along the A5 southbound for approximately 10.3km to the A5/A4303 Cross in Hand Roundabout. At the roundabout, take the first exit (left) onto the A4303 eastbound.
From here, they should continue eastbound along the A4303, passing through the roundabouts at Magna Park and Coventry Road to the A5/A426 Lutterworth Road/Rugby Road Roundabout.
At the roundabout, take the second exit (straight ahead) and continue eastbound along the A4303 to M1 Junction 20. Then rejoin the M1 southbound.
Drivers have been urged to follow the diverted route in place
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
The M1 motorway connects London to Leeds and stretches 193.6 miles in length. It starts in Edgware in north London and ends between Micklefield and Aberford, just outside Leeds.
Along its route, it connects to several other motorways, with junctions providing access to the M25, M45, M6, M69, M18, M62, M621 and A1M.
The RAC shared: "As with all motorways in the UK, there is always the risk of an accident on the M1, although there are excellent safety precautions in place. Always check for M1 traffic news to be aware of any accidents, and to avoid these areas if possible during your journey."