M62 chaos: Motorists risk traffic havoc and congestion as police shut busy road after serious collision

Drivers are being urged to avoid a popular motorway route following a serious accident with Greater Manchester Police officers in attendance.

The M62 is closed eastbound between J18 (M60, M66) and J19 (Middleton) following a serious collision as emergency services attend the scene.

National Highways: North-West has warned that delays are likely on the approach to the closure and diversion routes.

Traffic maps show that the event is expected to clear within the next hour, although it will take longer for normal traffic conditions to return.

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Surrounding roads along the M66, A627, A663 and the A6104 are also dealing with slow-moving traffic as a result of the accident and backlogged congestion.

National Highways has urged motorists in the area to follow the diversion route, which is displayed with the hollow triangle symbol on road signs.

GB News has contacted Greater Manchester Police for a comment on the road closure.

Drivers travelling eastbound are advised to follow the diversion route

• Exit the M62 at Junction 18
• At Simister roundabout, take the first exit onto M66 clockwise and follow for 3.4km
• Exit M66 at Junction 3

• At M66 Junction 3, take the first exit onto the slip road, turn right on Pilsworth Road and follow for 1.3km
• At Pilsworth Road/Moss Hall Road Junction, turn right onto Moss Hall Road and follow for 0.4km
• At Moss Hall Road/Pilsworth Road Junction, turn left onto Pilsworth Road and follow for 1.1km
• At Pilsworth Road/Hareshill Road Junction, turn right onto Hareshill Road/Queen Elizabeth Way and follow for 1.9km
• At Queen Elizabeth Way/M62 Junction 19 roundabout,t take the second exit and rejoin M62

It comes after police dealt with major delays on the M62 yesterday following a vehicle accident which claimed the life of a 24-year-old man.

Traffic was held on the M62 westbound between J20 Rochdale and J19 Heywood for most of the day as traffic officers assessed the damage to the road following the accident and the fire.

Detective Constable Rachael Stafford, from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU), said: “Since we became aware of the incident last night, we deployed officers to the scene and are now in a position to appeal to any members of the public who were on that stretch of road last night and can help with our enquiries, this could include those who have access to dashcam footage.

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“At the heart of this is a man that has sadly lost his life in tragic circumstances and family and friends who are now having to come to terms with losing a loved one this morning.”