THE M6 southbound J20A Lymm Interchange to J19 Northwich was closed at around 5pm today, Tuesday, as the air ambulance attended a serious collision, while there were also delays on the M56 after a van overturned.
Diversions for this M6 southbound closure are via the M56 eastbound and A556 southbound. Follow the hollow triangle symbol! There are long delays of at least 45 minutes above usual journey times with traffic back to J21A M62.
North West Motorway Police Group lead the response to this incident and an air ambulance was also in attendance. Due to this the northbound carriageway was blocked between J19 and J20a to allow the air ambulance to safely land.
The northbound carriageway has since been released and all lanes are open, residual delays are likely and the carriageway will be held to allow the air ambulance to leave when necessary.
The southbound carriageway is likely to remain closed for some time. There were long delays on the M6 southbound approaching the closure at J20a. Journey times were delayed by at least 45 minutes and congestion spanned several miles back to J21a (M62).
Four fire crews attended at the scene.
A Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “At around 4pm, firefighters were informed of a collision on the M6 southbound between junctions 20 and 19.
“On arrival, crews discovered that a saloon car had collided with a bridge and that two people were trapped inside the vehicle.
“The motorway was closed as emergency services worked at the scene.
“Firefighters used specialist cutting equipment to remove the car’s roof.
“They then got the casualties out of the vehicle and handed them over to the care of paramedics.
“An air ambulance was in attendance.”
To compound problems on local highways, the M56 eastbound was also fully blocked after another crash.
Emergency services were called to the collision between junction 10 at Stretton and junction nine at Lymm at around 4.30pm, when a van overturned before colliding with a lorry and a car on the slip road leading to the M6.
No one is believed to have been seriously injured, although a woman was taken to Warrington Hospital as a precaution.
One lane reopened at around 5pm, before the motorway fully reopened at around 6.15pm – resulting in delays of an hour with five-mile tailbacks miles to junction 11 at Preston Brook.
Four fire crews – including crews were called out.
A fire service spokesperson said: “Shortly after 4.30pm, firefighters received reports of a collision on the M56 eastbound between junctions 10 and nine.
“On arrival, crews discovered that the collision involved a saloon car, a transit van and a heavy goods vehicle.
“No-one was trapped inside any of the vehicles.
“Firefighters assessed people involved in the collision before paramedics arrived.
“They also made the vehicles safe. The woman who was driving the saloon car was taken to Warrington Hospital in an ambulance as a precaution.
“No-one else was taken to hospital.”
# ROAD CLOSURE # | Please be aware – Emergency services are currently at the scene of a collision on #M6 Southbound. Please avoid the area if possible. https://t.co/8Y4V3fcu6O
— Cheshire Police (@cheshirepolice) May 12, 2021
