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Evening commuters across Greater Manchester are facing disruption after a collision on the M62 westbound between junctions 12 and 11 led to multiple lane closures and slow-moving traffic on one of the region’s busiest motorway corridors.
Collision Closes Lanes on Key Stretch of M62
National Highways data and live traffic monitoring reports confirm that a road traffic collision on the M62 westbound between junction 12, the Eccles Interchange, and junction 11 at Birchwood has resulted in the closure of the hard shoulder and lanes one and two. Only the two outside lanes currently remain open, significantly reducing capacity on the approach from Greater Manchester towards Warrington and Liverpool.
The incident, reported on Monday 23 February 2026, is being treated as an active collision response. Recovery and emergency services are working at the scene to make the carriageway safe, remove damaged vehicles and clear debris. There are no official details yet on injuries, but motorists are being urged to drive with caution and follow any instructions from traffic officers as they pass the scene.
Traffic services note that the affected section carries a heavy mix of commuter, freight and regional through traffic, meaning that even partial lane closures can quickly cause congestion to build. Although initial indications suggest limited additional delay so far, volumes typically increase through the late evening peak, and conditions can change rapidly.
The crash comes at a time when the M62 corridor around Greater Manchester has already been experiencing frequent planned lane restrictions for maintenance and improvement works, compounding the impact of any unplanned incidents.
Impact on Greater Manchester and Warrington Commuters
The closure of two of the four westbound lanes between junctions 12 and 11 is squeezing traffic leaving Greater Manchester via the Eccles Interchange, where the M60, M62 and M602 converge. This interchange is a critical hub for drivers heading from Manchester city centre and the northern stretches of the M60 towards Warrington, Liverpool, Cheshire and the M6.
As the evening rush progresses, tailbacks are expected to extend eastwards from the collision site back towards junction 12 and onto feeder routes, including the M60 anti-clockwise and the M602 from Salford and central Manchester. Traffic is likely to be particularly heavy where local commuter flows merge with longer-distance haulage and airport-related journeys.
Urban routes through Salford and west Manchester, often used as informal rat-runs when the motorway is blocked, may also see extra pressure as drivers divert onto the A57, A580 and surrounding local roads. Bus services that share these corridors could experience knock-on delays, and travellers using park-and-ride or rail connections are being advised to build in additional time.
While live services currently describe overall delay on the immediate stretch as minimal, transport operators typically warn that conditions can deteriorate quickly once school run and after-work traffic volumes peak, especially when lane restrictions remain in place for several hours.
Advice, Diversions and What Drivers Should Do
Motorists heading west from Greater Manchester this evening are being urged to check live travel information before setting out and to consider flexible routing where possible. Those with non-essential journeys are advised to delay travel, particularly during the main evening peak, to avoid getting caught in slow-moving queues approaching junctions 12 and 11.
Drivers already on the network should be prepared for sudden braking and heavy congestion in the run-up to the restricted section. Keeping to reduced speeds, maintaining safe distances and avoiding last-minute lane changes are critical to preventing secondary incidents, which can significantly prolong disruption.
Alternative routes may include using other sections of the M60 orbital to reach the M61 or M56, or diverting via primary A-roads such as the A580 East Lancashire Road, depending on origin and destination. However, these routes can quickly become saturated when there is major disruption on the M62, so journey planners recommend allowing additional time rather than expecting free-flowing traffic elsewhere.
Commuters with fixed arrival times, such as shift workers or those catching late trains and flights, should factor in generous buffers and, where possible, monitor mobile navigation apps or radio traffic bulletins for updates on when lanes are likely to reopen.
Ongoing Works and a Stressed Motorway Corridor
The latest collision adds to a challenging period for drivers along the M62 corridor, where a mix of planned roadworks, maintenance schemes and previous incidents has repeatedly reduced capacity on key stretches between Manchester, Warrington and beyond. Recent and ongoing works, including resurfacing and hard-shoulder closures, have periodically cut available lanes and imposed lower speed limits.
Transport planners note that this part of the network carries some of the highest traffic volumes in the North West, linking the Manchester ring road with routes towards Merseyside, Cheshire, Yorkshire and the wider trans-Pennine corridor. Even relatively short-lived lane closures can trigger region-wide knock-on effects, especially during peak times or in poor weather.
Authorities continue to emphasise that temporary restrictions, whether for planned works or collision response, are essential for the safety of road users and workers on site. Drivers are repeatedly urged to respect speed limits, heed overhead signs and avoid distractions, particularly when passing through narrowed lanes or approaching flashing signals.
In the medium term, further improvement projects and maintenance campaigns are expected to continue along the M62 and connecting motorways, making it likely that intermittent disruption will remain a feature of journeys in and out of Greater Manchester.
What Commuters Should Watch for Next
For now, the key questions for commuters are how long the collision response will keep multiple lanes closed and whether any structural damage, fuel spills or complex vehicle recovery will extend the operation into the late night period. National Highways typically provides rolling updates on lane status, expected clearance times and any changes to diversion advice.
Regular users of the route, including logistics operators, coach companies and airport transfer services, are expected to adjust timetables and routing dynamically as more information emerges. Some may temporarily route vehicles via the M6, M61 or M56 to reduce exposure to potential standstill traffic on the M62 westbound.
Travel analysts say that, while initial reports suggested limited delay, commuters should prepare for an unsettled evening peak, with the possibility of residual congestion lasting even after all lanes are reopened. Once normal capacity is restored, it can still take some time for traffic to dissipate, particularly if earlier queues have built up around the Eccles Interchange.
For Monday evening travellers in Greater Manchester and Warrington, the safest approach is to assume longer-than-usual journey times, plan alternative options if feasible, and stay alert to updated traffic information as the incident response continues.