M6 traffic: Drivers face road chaos after huge lorry crash with 'no estimated time for re-opening'

National Highways first reported the accident on Sunday evening after a heavy goods vehicle collided with a central reservation and overturned.

All emergency services attended the scene, including the Air Ambulance and National Highways traffic officers.

While all traffic caught up within the closure has been released via the back of the queue, long delays are still present.

National Highways outlined that collision investigations are expected to take several hours.

Further delays are expected as further work is required once the collision investigations are completed.

Recovery of the vehicle, clean-up and emergency works to the road surface and damaged central reservation barrier will follow.

The transport organisation added: "This closure is expected to be protracted and there's currently no estimated time for re-opening."

Posting on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, the West Midlands branch of National Highways stated that the southbound closure would be removed soon, but the northbound closure will remain in place.

Drivers are also facing around 30 minutes of delays on the approach, with data showing slow-moving and stationary traffic on adjoining roads.

National Highways has introduced several diversion routes for the accident to help drivers avoid long delays.

Road users are advised to follow the Solid Circle diversion symbol on road signs if travelling on the A14 westbound or M1 northbound

If travelling on the A14 westbound:

• At the Cathorpe interchange with the M1/M6, take the exit slip to join the M1 northbound
• Continue northbound on the M1 to Junction 20
• Exit the M1 at Junction 20 and take the first exit onto the A4303 westbound towards Hinckley
• At the next roundabout (Sir Frank Whittle Roundabout), take the first exit onto the A426 towards Rugby/Stanford
• Travel along the A426 to the Gibbets Roundabout with the A5 and take the second exit to continue on the A426
• Remain on the A426 until you reach the M6 J1 interchange and take the third exit to join the M6 northbound

If travelling on the M1 northbound

• Continue on the M1 northbound at J19
• Exit the M1 at Junction 20 and take the first exit onto the A4303 westbound towards Hinckley
• At the next roundabout (Sir Frank Whittle Roundabout), take the first exit onto the A426 towards Rugby/Stanford.
• Travel along the A426 to the Gibbets Roundabout with the A5 and take the second exit to continue on the A426
• Remain on the A426 until you reach the M6 J1 interchange and take the third exit to join the M6 northbound

Road users are advised to follow the Hollow Diamond diversion symbol on road signs if travelling on the M6 southbound

• Exit the M6 southbound at Junction 1 and take the A426 (north/east) to the A426/A5 Gibbet Hill Roundabout
• At Gibbets Hill Roundabout, take the second exit northbound and continue along the A426 to the A426/A4303 (Sir Frank Whittle Roundabout)
• At the roundabout, turn right(east) and take the third exit onto the A4303
• Continue eastbound along the A4303 to the M1 Junction 20
• At M1 Junction 20, take the third exit (south) onto the M1 southbound
• Continue along the M1 southbound to M1 Junction 19 to continue your journey