M6 closure: Traffic chaos to remain for hours after HGV crash and fuel spillage causes motorway to shut
Drivers are being warned of long delays on the M6
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
Drivers are being warned of severe delays on a major motorway route after an overturned HGV caused a fuel spillage.
The M6 in Cumbria is currently closed northbound between J39 (Shap) and J40 (Penrith) following a vehicle collision.
It involved a heavy goods vehicle which overturned before coming to a rest along the central reservation barrier, causing lanes to be closed.
As a result of the incident, mud has been spread across the carriageway, in addition to fuel spilling across the road.
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The extent of traffic on the M6
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
The third lane on the carriageway has been closed southbound between Junction 40 and Junction 39.
Emergency services are in attendance, with National Highways warning that delays could continue even after the vehicle has been moved.
It stated that recovery, clean up and barrier repairs would be required to clear the carriageway and ensure drivers are not in danger of further issues.
National Highways is warning that the situation is not expected to be cleared until 3pm later this afternoon.
Normal traffic conditions are expected to return slightly earlier, believed to be between 2.30pm and 2.45pm.
This follows another collision which took place on the M6 at J39 earlier this morning, which also involved a HGV.
The vehicle crossed over from the northbound carriageway onto the southbound and came to rest on the northbound entry slip road at J39.
In the latest update from National Highways, it announced that traffic caught within the closure is in the process of being released via rearward relief.
National Highways has set up a diversion route and urged motorists to follow the Hollow Triangle symbol on the road signs and gantries.
Motorists should exit the M6 at J39, turn left onto the B6261 westbound, before turning right at the junction B6261/A6 and heading northbound.
Following this change, they can continue north on the A6 through Shap, Hackthorpe, Clifton and Eamont Bridge.
Once they reach the Kemplay Bank roundabout, by taking the first exit onto the A66 westbound, they will be able to rejoin the M6 at Junction 40 before continuing with their journey.
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Cumbria Roads Police and Firearms Support Unit, as well as Cumbria Police, remain on the scene and are helping to clear the incident as quickly as possible.