Traffic on one of northern England’s busiest motorways ground to a halt on January 20, 2026, after a serious collision on the M62 near Brighouse forced the closure of three of the four westbound lanes.

The disruption triggered lengthy tailbacks across West Yorkshire, leaving drivers stranded in long queues and prompting renewed questions about congestion, resilience and safety on this crucial trans-Pennine route.

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Major Collision Between Junctions 26 and 25 Brings Westbound M62 to a Crawl

National Highways reported that lanes 2, 3 and 4 of the M62 westbound were shut between junction 26 (Chain Bar, the link for the M606 to Bradford) and junction 25 (Brighouse) following a road traffic collision late on Tuesday morning. With only the inside lane remaining open, traffic was funneled into a single running lane, resulting in significant delays and dense queues stretching back towards Leeds and Bradford.

The incident occurred on a stretch of motorway that routinely carries heavy volumes of commuter, freight and long-distance traffic heading towards Huddersfield and Greater Manchester. Initial information described the crash as a multi-vehicle road traffic collision, although full details of the number and type of vehicles involved were not immediately confirmed by authorities at the scene.

Shortly before midday, traffic monitoring services warned of delays of at least 30 minutes above normal journey times, with live updates suggesting stop-start conditions and stretches of near standstill. National Highways said the event was expected to clear between mid and late afternoon, but warned that queues would take considerably longer to unwind once all lanes had reopened.

Emergency Response and Ongoing Scene Management

Emergency services were dispatched to the scene shortly after the collision, including police, ambulance crews and traffic officers tasked with managing both the response and the safety of drivers trapped within the congestion. Given the location of the incident and the volume of traffic, responders implemented immediate lane closures to create a safe working corridor and to allow access for emergency vehicles.

Investigators and recovery teams worked in tandem to secure the scene, assess any injuries and begin clearing damaged vehicles from the carriageway. While no formal statement on casualties had been released by early afternoon, the scale of the lane closures and the length of time reserved for clearance suggested a complex recovery operation and the potential for serious damage to at least one vehicle.

Traffic officers positioned at both junction 26 and junction 25 attempted to meter the flow of vehicles entering the affected section of motorway, but with three of four lanes unavailable, congestion was inevitable. Overhead signs on the M62 and connecting routes were deployed to warn drivers to slow down, follow lane instructions and prepare for sudden stops as they approached the scene.

Severe Delays for Commuters and Freight Drivers Across West Yorkshire

The closure created ripple effects far beyond the immediate crash site. Morning and lunchtime travellers on the M62 westbound encountered significantly extended journey times, with many commuters heading from Leeds, Bradford or Wakefield towards Huddersfield reporting delays of up to an hour. Haulage and logistics operators using this vital corridor between Yorkshire and the North West also faced schedule disruptions.

Local roads around Brighouse, Cleckheaton and the Chain Bar interchange rapidly became congested as drivers attempted to divert away from the motorway queues. Key A-roads including the A644 and A62 saw heavier than usual traffic, with some drivers reporting that alternative routes were little faster than remaining on the M62 itself.

Passengers using regional airports and intercity rail connections were among those affected, as travellers heading towards Manchester Airport or connecting rail services found their carefully timed itineraries challenged by the sudden disruption. Businesses reliant on just-in-time deliveries, from supermarkets to manufacturing plants, also faced potential knock-on delays as lorries became trapped in the congestion.

Travel Advice: Avoid the Area and Consider Alternate Trans-Pennine Routes

Authorities urged motorists to avoid the westbound M62 between junctions 26 and 25 where possible throughout the early to mid-afternoon period. Drivers already on the motorway were advised to remain patient, follow instructions from traffic officers and refrain from dangerous manoeuvres such as using the hard shoulder without being directed to do so.

National Highways and local travel services encouraged drivers heading from West Yorkshire towards Greater Manchester to consider alternative trans-Pennine options if their journeys were flexible. Depending on their starting point, options included rerouting via the M1 and A628 over Woodhead Pass, using the A646 and A58 through Calderdale, or delaying non-essential journeys until later in the day once normal traffic conditions had begun to return.

However, with many of these alternative routes already busy or affected by their own roadworks and pinch points, travel experts stressed the importance of checking live traffic updates before setting off. For local residents making shorter trips, public transport options where available were recommended as a way to avoid the worst of the motorway disruption.

Incident Compounds Existing Disruption from Roadworks and Earlier Closures

The collision near Brighouse came against a backdrop of ongoing disruption on the M62 corridor in West Yorkshire. In the early hours of January 20, the westbound carriageway near Huddersfield around junction 24 had already been closed due to a breakdown of heavy machinery during overnight roadworks. That separate incident caused delays of around 50 minutes for drivers as traffic was diverted using entry and exit slip roads.

Further afield, National Highways is in the middle of a programme of maintenance and improvement works across key junctions on the corridor, including LED lighting upgrades and planned overnight closures around junctions 26, 27 and 29. These schemes have already required partial and full closures of slip roads and sections of the motorway on selected dates in January and February, adding to the perception among regular users that the route is under almost constant strain.

The crash between junctions 26 and 25 therefore hit a network that was already operating with reduced resilience. Drivers who had adapted to planned closures and diversions in recent weeks suddenly found themselves facing an unplanned, real-time incident on top of those existing challenges, exacerbating frustration and extending journey times across the region.

Safety Concerns and the M62’s Troubled Reputation

The M62 has long held a difficult reputation among northern drivers, particularly on the hilly, weather-prone stretches between West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. A series of high-profile incidents in recent years, including serious collisions, prolonged closures and weather-related disruption, has cemented its image as one of the UK’s more unpredictable motorways.

While motorways statistically remain among the safest roads in the country, the high speeds, heavy goods traffic and dense commuter use on the M62 mean that any collision has the potential to trigger extensive disruption. When incidents occur near critical interchanges such as Chain Bar or Brighouse, the impact can cascade across a wide swathe of the regional road network.

Road safety advocates frequently highlight the need for sustained enforcement of speed limits, careful lane discipline and greater awareness of conditions on busy multi-lane motorways. They also point to the importance of leaving adequate space between vehicles in stop-start traffic, particularly around areas of ongoing roadworks where lanes may narrow, cambers may change and sightlines can be reduced.

Implications for Travelers and the Wider Visitor Economy

For those heading to or through West Yorkshire for leisure, tourism or business on January 20, the disruption served as a timely reminder of the importance of contingency planning when travelling by road. Visitors heading towards destinations such as the Yorkshire Dales, the Pennine market towns or city breaks in Leeds and Manchester were among those whose itineraries risked being thrown off course by the closure.

Travel planners and tourism operators increasingly encourage guests to factor potential motorway delays into journey times, especially during peak hours or when weather and roadworks combine to make conditions more challenging. Many accommodation providers and attractions now communicate live traffic updates via their own channels, helping guests adjust arrival times or consider alternative routes when significant incidents are reported.

From a broader perspective, incidents of this nature highlight the tight coupling between transport infrastructure and the health of regional visitor economies. When a key artery such as the M62 seizes up, the impact can be felt by hotels, event venues, restaurants and attractions whose customers are delayed, diverted or decide to cancel plans altogether rather than face extended hours behind the wheel.

What Drivers Can Expect Next on the M62 Corridor

By early afternoon on January 20, traffic services anticipated that the immediate incident between junctions 26 and 25 would be cleared by around 3 pm, with normal traffic conditions expected to begin returning from approximately 3:30 pm onwards. Even once all lanes are reopened, however, residual queues are likely to persist for some time as the backlog of vehicles gradually disperses.

Looking ahead, drivers using the M62 in West Yorkshire over the coming weeks face a period of continued disruption as National Highways presses ahead with ongoing maintenance work, particularly around junction 26 at Chain Bar and other key interchanges. A mixture of overnight closures, restricted lanes and diversions will remain in place on selected dates, underlining the need for regular travellers to stay informed about planned works as well as unplanned incidents.

For now, motorists are being urged to allow extra time for journeys along the M62 corridor, remain alert to sudden changes in traffic flow and heed all instructions from signs and officers on the ground. While Tuesday’s crash near Brighouse may ultimately clear within hours, the broader challenge of keeping this indispensable motorway both safe and flowing freely is set to remain at the forefront of regional transport discussions for some time to come.