The M60 is a major ring road that circles Manchester, one of the largest cities in the United Kingdom. It’s a key route for people traveling in and out of the city and connects several important areas in Greater Manchester. Locals often use it for daily commutes, and it also carries heavy truck traffic moving goods across the north of England.
Early on Monday, a serious accident forced a long section of this motorway to shut down. National Highways, the agency responsible for roads in England, confirmed the closure between Junction 1 and Junction 25 of the M60. The crash involved eight vehicles, including three lorries (trucks), two cars, and a van.
Beer Barrels, Fuel, and Debris Scatter the Road
The crash happened around 11:30 am British Summer Time (BST). One lorry drove through the central barrier, hitting multiple lamp posts and blocking the motorway in both directions. Another lorry lost its load of beer barrels, which rolled across the lanes. The road was quickly covered in liquid, debris, and diesel fuel.
Emergency services arrived at the scene quickly. The North West Ambulance Service reported that three people were taken to hospital, while six others were treated for minor injuries on-site.
Photos from the crash show a damaged blue-and-red Scania lorry lying across all three lanes. Crews are now busy removing the wreckage and cleaning the road. The crash also damaged part of the central reservation (barrier), which workers are trying to repair.
National Highways says the road won’t reopen before 2:30 am, at the earliest. That means traffic will stay blocked for over 15 hours.
Traffic Chaos and Ongoing Investigation
Because of the crash, drivers have been told to follow diversions between Junction 25 at Bredbury Interchange and Junction 1 near the Pyramid Roundabout in Stockport, a town just south of Manchester. The closure has already caused long traffic jams in the area.
Police are still investigating the cause of the crash. No one has been arrested so far. Officers are checking CCTV footage and speaking to those involved to find out what went wrong.
A spokesperson for National Highways said, “This was a serious incident involving multiple heavy vehicles and dangerous spills. Our teams are working through the night to make the road safe.”
The M60 is a lifeline for local and regional transport, and this disruption could continue into Tuesday morning’s rush hour. International travelers passing through Manchester or using nearby airports may also experience delays.
This incident shows how one crash on a key motorway can ripple across an entire region — and even across borders, as freight, travel, and business depend on these routes to stay moving.
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