Drivers have been warned to expect hours of delays on a major motorway this afternoon after a road traffic collision has caused severe issues.
The M6 is currently closed southbound between J33 and J32 in Lancaster following a collision, with drivers urged to follow a new diversion route in place.
Emergency services are currently in attendance, including the Air Ambulance, with National Highways Traffic Officers assisting with traffic management.
Traffic caught within the closure is in the process of being released, but drivers are still experiencing more than two hours of delays.
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National Highways has urged drivers to follow the diverted route in place
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
National Highways has now urged drivers impacted by the closure to follow the diverted route.
The route instructs drivers to exit the M6 at J33 (Lancaster South) and at the roundabout take the first exit at A6 Garstang, Blackpool, Fleetwood.
From here they should follow the A6 southbound through Garstang, Bilsborrow, Barton, Broughton to M55 J1 (Broughton).
Drivers need to take the first roundabout exit for Birmingham M6 and follow the M55 to re-join the M6 J32, heading south towards Birmingham.
The junction has been closed following a serious collision
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
Lancashire Police shared on Facebook: "At 10:27am this morning, we received a report of a multi-vehicle collision between Junctions 33 and Forton Services on the M6 Southbound. Our officers and other emergency service colleagues remain at the scene, and there are a number of casualties who have been taken to the hospital.
"The motorway remains closed between Junction 33 and the services southbound, and diversions are in place. Northbound is open with speed restrictions in place."
The police department warned that it expects the southbound motorway to be closed "for some time" as colleagues continue to respond to the incident.
The police added: "We know that it may be frustrating to have your journey delayed, or your route changed. We ask that you please be patient and understand that our officers and colleagues are working to resume normality as soon as they can. At this stage, our priority is responding to the collision, and we will bring you updates when we are able to."
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Drivers have been warned of more than two hours of delays to journey times
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
Updating drivers caught in the traffic, the agency said: "Hello, the M6 southbound remains closed between J33 and J32. J34 southbound entry slip has been closed to stop traffic joining the back of the closure traffic.
"The northbound carriageway remains open; however, traffic is slow moving past the location of the incident on the northbound carriageway. Thank you for your patience."
National Highways warned drivers to allow extra journey time and to plan ahead or even delay journeys completely.
Normal traffic conditions are expected to return later today between 4:15pm and 4:30pm.
The agency posted on X: "Lane 3 (of 3) is now closed on the M6 northbound between J32 and J33 due to damage sustained to the central reservation barrier.
"The southbound carriageway remains closed following the earlier incident. 2+ hour delays southbound, with 45-minute delays northbound."