M60 chaos: Multi-vehicle collision causes major road delays and closures amid diesel spillage

The collision took place earlier today and involved four heavy goods vehicles as well as four cars, National Highways reported.

The road closures came after one of the HGVs crossed through the central reservation barrier and struck several lamp columns and other vehicles.

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Another HGV involved in the accident shed its load of beer barrels onto the road, while other larger vehicles saw their fuel tanks rupture. This resulted in a large amount of diesel spilling across the carriageway in both directions.

Greater Manchester Police, Manchester Fire and Rescue, North West Ambulance Service, and National Highways Traffic Officers are currently attending the scene with work underway to clear the road.

National Highways confirmed that there were only minor injuries from the collision but warned that the road would remain closed in both directions for a "substantial amount of time".

This is to allow repair work to get underway due to the amount of infrastructure damage, spillage, debris clean-up, and the recovery of several damaged large vehicles.

A spokesperson for North West Ambulance Service told GB News: "Three patients were taken to hospital for further treatment, and six others were assessed for minor injuries."

The agency shared that drivers caught within the closures will be released in "due course" with National Highways and Greater Manchester Police working to open the road "as quickly as possible".

However, while the roadworks are put in place, National Highways has implemented a diversion route which can help navigate drivers out of the congested area.

The route urges drivers to leave the M60 clockwise at J25 and at the roundabout, taking the third exit onto the A560.

From here, they should follow the A560 westbound and continue past J26, remaining on the A560. At the Portwood Interchange (M60 J27), drivers should take the fourth exit to rejoin the M60 clockwise.

For anti-clockwise diversions, drivers should leave the M60 at J27 and at the roundabout, take the second exit onto the A560 eastbound. They should then remain on the A560 to J25 roundabout, and take the first exit to rejoin the M60 anti-clockwise.

The agency shared: "If this incident impacts your planned route, please allow extra journey time. Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey.

"It may take some time for all traffic within the closures to be cleared, and we apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience if impacted."

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According to the RAC, J26 on the M60 is one of the worst junctions along the motorway due to the Lower Bredbury Interchange runs parallel with the A560, allowing the movement to flow westbound to eastbound.

The RAC shared: "The M60 is essentially the only way to travel from the south into and out of Manchester, so you can expect a lot of road users on the M60 will be travelling at all times throughout the day.

"The four-laned motorway is fast flowing, with typically some delays near all major junctions, so do check for any M60 traffic updates before you travel. Some of these have been known to be accident blackspots. For example, the junctions near Stockport have been flagged as problematic."

The event is expected to clear between 5pm and 5:15pm later today.