Traffic on Manchester’s orbital M60 motorway has been plunged into chaos after multiple crashes triggered lane closures and long queues during the morning rush hour on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

Drivers have been warned to expect severe delays, with congestion stretching for several miles in both directions at the height of the disruption and knock-on effects likely to continue through much of the day.

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What Happened on the M60 This Morning

The worst of the disruption has been focused around the southern stretch of the M60 near Cheadle and Stockport, a critical section of the orbital route that carries commuter, freight and airport traffic around Greater Manchester. According to regional traffic reports and national roadside agencies, two separate collisions occurred in quick succession on the anti clockwise and clockwise carriageways, leading to significant lane closures and stop-start traffic.

The first incident was reported shortly before 7 am on the anti clockwise carriageway near Junction 3 at Cheadle. Two lanes were shut as emergency services, traffic officers and recovery crews attended the scene, immediately reducing capacity on one of the busiest stretches of the motorway. As vehicles backed up, queues quickly grew to around four miles, with journey times extended by up to half an hour for motorists heading towards Stockport and the M56 interchange.

Not long after, traffic on the clockwise carriageway was also affected when a separate incident near Junction 27 at Portwood brought vehicles almost to a standstill. Although that section has since been fully reopened, residual delays remain, with congestion described as heavy between Junction 24 at Denton and Junction 27 as morning rush hour volumes remain high.

Current Closures, Delays and Traffic Hotspots

By late morning, some lanes on the clockwise side had reopened, easing the worst of the immediate gridlock, but conditions on the anti clockwise side remain very challenging. Two lanes at the scene of the earlier crash near Junction 3 have been closed for extended periods to allow collision investigation work, vehicle recovery and debris clearance, significantly squeezing capacity on the outer ring road.

National traffic monitors report stop-start queues extending for several miles on the approach to the affected stretch, with delays of around 30 minutes above normal travel times in the anti clockwise direction. Drivers heading from the M62 or M66 towards Stockport, Manchester Airport and the M56 are facing the most severe disruption, with tailbacks often starting well before the official congestion warning signs.

There have also been knock-on delays on feeder routes, including the A34, A6 and local roads through Cheadle and Stockport, as drivers try to bypass the blocked motorway. Urban traffic control cameras show particularly heavy conditions near key junctions such as Kingsway and Portwood roundabout, where local and strategic traffic flows intersect.

How This Incident Interacts With Ongoing Roadworks

The crashes come at an already difficult time for M60 users, as a series of planned maintenance and safety schemes continue to restrict capacity on sections of the ring road. National Highways has ongoing works between Junctions 4 and 5 near Didsbury, where overnight lane closures and entry slip restrictions remain in place as part of a bridge safety project.

Further along the network, a major programme of drainage and carriageway repairs between Junctions 23 and 24 at Audenshaw is scheduled to run until June 2026. That scheme involves narrow lanes and a permanent reduced speed limit, which can make it harder for traffic to recover quickly after any incident elsewhere on the ring. Although those works are not directly at the crash sites, their presence reduces the overall resilience of the system, amplifying the impact of any unplanned closures.

On top of that, additional overnight closures are scheduled in the coming days, including entry slip closures at Junction 9 near Trafford and routine works inside the M60 corridor. While these are generally timed for quieter periods, drivers already facing disruption today may find there is little slack left in the wider network as congestion patterns ripple outward.

Advice for Drivers, Commuters and Holidaymakers

Authorities are urging anyone who has not yet begun their journey to consider whether they can delay travel, work remotely or use rail and tram services instead, particularly if their route would normally take them around the southern and eastern sections of the M60. Commuters heading to central Manchester or Salford from the suburbs around Stockport, Cheadle, Denton and Ashton are being told to expect longer than usual journey times if they choose to drive.

For those who must travel by road, the most important advice is to check live traffic information before setting off, allow extra time and be prepared for last-minute changes to lane closures or diversion routes. Drivers approaching from the M62 or M66, for example, may be able to reroute earlier via alternative radial routes into the city, rather than persisting all the way to the most congested M60 junctions.

Holidaymakers heading to Manchester Airport are a particular concern this morning, as the M60 is a key access corridor for many passengers from across the North West and beyond. Travel advisers are recommending that anyone with a flight today leaves significantly earlier than usual, and where possible considers airport rail, tram or coach options to avoid the most heavily affected motorway sections. Airlines generally expect passengers to build in extra time for unforeseen traffic problems and are unlikely to hold flights for late arrivals stuck in congestion.

Impact on Local Communities and Businesses

Beyond the immediate frustration for motorists, the latest string of crashes and delays on the M60 places renewed strain on communities living alongside the orbital route and on local businesses dependent on just-in-time deliveries. Towns such as Cheadle, Stockport and Denton already experience heavy volumes of through-traffic whenever the motorway falters, as satnavs divert drivers onto residential streets and local distributors reroute vans and lorries.

Residents frequently report increased noise, air pollution and safety concerns when rat-running traffic spills onto smaller roads, with morning and evening peaks particularly problematic around school start and finish times. Today’s incidents are expected to produce another surge of non-local vehicles on these roads, as drivers look for any perceived shortcut around the closures.

Businesses that rely on the M60 for freight movements and commuter access are also bracing for operational knock-on effects. Logistics firms face schedule disruptions as drivers sit in slower-moving traffic, while time-sensitive sectors such as construction, hospitality and healthcare risk staff arriving late for shifts. For some companies still dealing with wider regional disruptions, including separate issues on the M5 in Devon following overnight flooding, the cumulative pressures on the motorway network are becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Safety Concerns and Calls for Improvement

Today’s crashes are the latest in a series of high-profile incidents on the M60 and nearby strategic motorways, which have prompted repeated calls from motoring groups and local politicians to review safety and traffic management on the busy orbital route. While the precise causes of this morning’s collisions are still under investigation, campaigners argue that rising traffic volumes, complex junction layouts and frequent lane changes around interchanges heighten the risk of shunts and multi-vehicle crashes.

Safety schemes underway in the North West, including enhanced barriers, improved drainage and targeted speed enforcement on key feeder roads, are part of a broader effort to reduce collision rates and lessen the severity of incidents when they do occur. However, campaigners say that unpredictable weather, regular roadworks and the sheer density of vehicles using the M60 at peak times mean that disruption is increasingly becoming the norm rather than the exception.

National agencies maintain that planned upgrades will, in time, improve safety and reliability on the orbital network by modernising aging infrastructure and increasing resilience to heavy rainfall and winter conditions. They also stress that driver behaviour remains a critical factor in reducing crashes, urging motorists to keep safe distances, adhere to variable speed limits and avoid sudden lane changes, particularly near junctions and when traffic conditions are changing rapidly.

What Travellers Should Watch for in the Coming Days

As the immediate response to this morning’s crashes continues, attention is already turning to how quickly the M60 will return to normal operating conditions and whether further disruption may follow. Recovery and clean-up operations can take several hours, especially if there are complex insurance investigations or structural inspections required at the scene of a collision.

Even once all lanes are reopened, it can take a considerable time for queues to clear and for traffic patterns to normalise, particularly during the extended morning and early afternoon peaks. Drivers should therefore anticipate that the south and east sections of the M60, along with major junctions linking to the M56, M62 and M66, may remain sensitive to any additional minor incidents or breakdowns later in the day.

Looking slightly further ahead, travellers are also being reminded of scheduled overnight works on entry slips and within junctions around Trafford, Didsbury and Audenshaw, which will bring fresh sets of closures and diversions in early February. Those planning medium or long distance journeys across the North West in the coming week are being advised to incorporate this into their plans, rather than assuming that today’s disruption will be a one-off event.

Practical Planning Tips for Using the M60

For motorists who cannot avoid the M60 over the next 24 to 48 hours, careful planning can help mitigate at least some of the impact. Leaving earlier or later than the traditional peak windows can reduce time spent in queues, while building in contingency time avoids the stress of tightly timed appointments or flight departures. It may be worth, where possible, rescheduling non-essential trips or consolidating errands to minimise the number of journeys taken during the most volatile periods.

Drivers are also encouraged to pay close attention to overhead gantry signs, variable speed limits and lane closure markers, which can change at short notice as traffic officers manage live incidents. Ignoring red X lane closures or failing to adjust speed to match conditions not only risks penalties but can also endanger road workers and other motorists. Keeping an eye on fuel levels before entering congestion, and ensuring that vehicles are roadworthy, can help avoid additional breakdown-related blockages.

For regular commuters, exploring alternatives such as park-and-ride schemes, local rail services or shared car journeys may provide some resilience during periods of heightened disruption. While the M60 remains the backbone of Greater Manchester’s strategic road network, today’s chaos is a reminder that relying on a single route carries risks, particularly during the winter months and amid an intensive programme of repairs and improvements.