Drivers have been warned to expect severe delays of roughly 90 minutes after a collision caused huge congestion issues on a major motorway.
The M6 in Staffordshire has been closed northbound between J12 Gailey Interchange and J13 Dunston Interchange following an HGV fire.
The fire was first highlighted this afternoon at roughly 1.30pm with National Highways detailing how the HGV was "fully ablaze".
During this time, the agency estimated delays of only 30 minutes, but has since increased threefold due to the incident, with traffic now operating at 16mph.
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Drivers are currently experiencing 90-minute delays
TRAFFIC ENGLAND
National Highways shared: "If this closure impacts on your planned route, please allow extra journey time. Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey."
Posting on social media X, the agency revealed that it has managed to open lane four of the motorway southbound to ease some of the traffic, but delays are still pressing on.
Normal traffic conditions are expected to return between 6.30pm and 6.45pm later today.
Diversion routes have subsequently been put in place, with drivers urged to follow the road signs. The Hollow Triangle diversion calls on drivers to exit the M6 at J12 and take the exit to the A5 westbound.
Drivers have been urged to follow the diversion route in place
TRAFFIC ENGLAND
From here, they should continue along the A5 westwards to its junction with the A449 (Gailey). Drivers need to take the exit to the A449 northbound and continue to the M6 J13.
Updating drivers, National Highways shared: "Two (of four) lanes closed on the M6 northbound in Staffordshire between J12 Gailey and J13 Stafford following a vehicle fire.
"There are 90-minute delays northbound at present, please allow extra time for your journey."
The M6 spans over 230 miles and covers the Midlands, through to the north of the UK, and upwards to the Scottish border.
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Responding to drivers stuck in traffic, National Highways confirmed that the southbound has reopened with Traffic Officers in the process of reopening lane four on the northbound section of the junction.
In another update, the agency shared: "There are 60-minute delays northbound at present, please allow extra time for your journey."
The road is expected to clear by 6.30pm later today
TRAFFIC ENGLAND
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