Southbound j13 to j12 (Picture: Highways England)
Southbound J13 to J12 are shut (Picture: Highways England

A large stretch of the M6, the longest motorway in the UK, will be closed for several hours today.

The closure follows a serious collision involving a truck and a van at around 12.10am.

The southbound carriageway between Junctions 13 and 12 has been closed for more than seven hours, with delays of two hours expected.

Motorway cameras show half the M6 completely empty, while a logjam stretches for three miles back towards Junction 14

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National Highways, which manages motorways, says the carriageway will be shut throughout the morning.

But the agency said on X that there is ‘no estimated re-opening time currently as police collision investigation is ongoing’.

‘We do expect the road to remain closed throughout this morning’s peak period, though,’ it added.

Are M6 diversions in place?

Highway officials are asking drivers to follow the hollow circle diversion symbol:

Exit the M6 southbound at J13 and join the A449 southbound
Continue on the A449 until the junction with the A5 at Gailey
Take the A5 eastbound and continue to then re-join the M6 southbound at J12.

Plan and allow extra time for journeys, highway officials said, adding that re-routing or postponing drives altogether might be best.

The police said: ‘A reminder this morning that the M6 southbound from Junction 13 to Junction 12 remains closed for investigation work.

‘Please follow National Highways for updates.’

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