One of the United Kingdom’s busiest motorways was brought to a standstill on Friday, January 16, 2026, after a tragic incident on the M6 in Greater Manchester led to a full closure in both directions and hours of severe disruption for drivers. The police led operation, triggered by concerns for a woman’s welfare, ended in tragedy when she was pronounced dead at the scene, prompting a large emergency response and a complex investigation that forced traffic off the motorway and onto already strained local roads.

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What Happened on the M6 This Morning

Greater Manchester Police said officers were called at around 7:42 a.m. to reports of concern for the welfare of a woman on the M6 between junctions 23 and 26, a key stretch of motorway near Wigan and Ashton in Makerfield. On arrival, emergency services found a woman at the roadside and despite efforts at the scene, she was pronounced dead.

Police have confirmed that the death is not currently being treated as suspicious, although formal identification and notification of next of kin are still under way. Specialist officers are expected to support the woman’s family while inquiries continue into the circumstances leading up to the incident.

As a result of the tragedy, the M6 was immediately closed in both directions between junction 23 (Haydock) and junction 26 (Orrell Interchange), halting thousands of journeys at the height of the morning rush and creating rapid tailbacks on the wider motorway network.

Extent of Closures and Where Traffic Is Worst

The closure affects a busy section of the M6 in Greater Manchester that carries long distance traffic between the Midlands, the North West, and Scotland, as well as large volumes of local and regional journeys. Both northbound and southbound carriageways are shut between junction 23 and junction 26, cutting off a vital link that also connects with the M58 and routes into Liverpool and Manchester.

National Highways has described the incident as severe and warned that the closure could remain in place for many hours, with officials indicating that the motorway may stay shut for most of the day. Traffic cameras and regional traffic reports show long queues on approaches to the closure points, with vehicles slowing from several miles out as they hit the back of stationary traffic.

By late morning, northbound drivers were facing delays of around 60 minutes with queues of up to five miles forming on the approach to junction 23. Southbound, delays of around 30 minutes and queues of up to four miles were reported, with congestion building steadily as more drivers joined the motorway without realising its full closure ahead.

Impact on Drivers and the Wider Motorway Network

The scale of disruption on the M6 sent shockwaves across the North West’s transport network. With such a significant stretch of motorway unavailable, drivers were forced to divert onto alternative routes, including the A580 East Lancashire Road, the A49, and other local A roads that were never designed to handle sustained motorway volumes.

These diversion routes quickly became saturated, with reports of heavy congestion, slow moving or stop start traffic, and significantly extended journey times. Many commuters heading between Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire, and Greater Manchester were caught up in the disruption, as were haulage drivers and long distance travellers heading towards Carlisle, Birmingham, or the M62 corridor.

To compound problems for motorists, reports of a separate crash near junction 21 at Woolston, close to Warrington, added to delays for those attempting to skirt around the main closure. Although that incident was of a lesser scale, any further disruption on or near the M6 today has had an outsized impact because of the main closure between junctions 23 and 26.

How Authorities and Emergency Services Responded

Greater Manchester Police are leading the response to the incident, with officers from specialist road policing and major incident teams on scene alongside paramedics and National Highways traffic officers. A forensic collision investigation and scene examination are taking place as part of efforts to understand exactly what happened and to gather any relevant evidence.

National Highways has deployed additional traffic officers to manage the closure points, assist with turn around operations for vehicles trapped within the affected section, and keep diversion routes moving where possible. Control room staff are updating electronic motorway signs and coordinating with local authorities to monitor pinch points on surrounding roads.

Authorities have stressed that the closure is likely to be lengthy because of the sensitivity of the investigation and the need to ensure a thorough examination of the scene. That process often requires lane closures, evidence markers on the carriageway, detailed measurements, and specialist photography before the road surface can be cleared and deemed safe to reopen.

Official Advice for Motorists Caught in the Chaos

Drivers planning to use the M6 in the North West today are being urged to reconsider their journeys, delay travel if at all possible, or use alternative strategic routes via the M61, M62, M56, or other motorways further afield. Transport agencies are asking motorists not to follow satellite navigation systems blindly if they direct traffic down unsuitable minor roads that may become quickly overwhelmed.

For those already in the queues approaching the closure, the key message from police and traffic officers is to remain patient, stay in your vehicle unless instructed otherwise, and follow any direction provided via overhead gantry signs or from officers at the scene. Turning vehicles in live lanes, attempting to drive on the hard shoulder, or using emergency access points without permission creates further danger for road users and emergency crews.

National Highways and regional traffic services are advising motorists to allow extra time for all journeys in and around Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Lancashire today. Rail operators and local public transport providers may see increased demand as some travellers seek to avoid the motorway network altogether in the wake of the disruption.

Safety, Welfare, and Mental Health on the Road

Although details about the woman’s circumstances have not been released, police describing the incident as a concern for welfare has drawn renewed attention to mental health and safety on the roadside. Incidents of this nature, while relatively rare compared to collisions, tend to have a profound impact on families, witnesses, and responding officers, as well as causing major disruption to other road users.

Road safety and mental health charities often highlight that busy motorways are highly dangerous environments for anyone on foot and that approaching traffic at national speed limits leaves little room for error or last minute reactions. They encourage anyone experiencing a crisis to seek help via phone lines, health services, or trusted contacts rather than going near fast moving roads.

In the aftermath of such an event, support is typically offered to those directly involved, including emergency workers and witnesses who may have seen the incident unfold. The closure and the length of time required at the scene reflect not only technical investigative needs but also the duty of care towards everyone affected.

Why This Stretch of the M6 Is So Critical

The M6 is the longest motorway in the United Kingdom and a crucial north south artery, carrying both domestic and international freight as well as millions of passenger journeys every year. The affected section in Greater Manchester is particularly important because it connects with the M58 towards Merseyside, sits close to key junctions for the M62, and provides a link for traffic heading to and from Scotland, the Midlands, and North Wales.

Closures on this corridor quickly ripple outward, impacting the M61 to the east, the M62 corridor between Liverpool and Hull, and local access routes into major urban centers such as Manchester and Liverpool. The result is that an incident confined to a relatively short stretch of tarmac can have disproportionate effects across a wide geographic area, as has been seen today.

Haulage operators and logistics firms are likely to face delivery delays and rescheduling challenges as lorries are held up in queues or diverted onto slower roads. For time sensitive cargo and just in time supply chains, even a few hours of disruption on the M6 can force adjustments to operations and knock on effects through warehouses and distribution centers.

What Travellers Should Do Next

For anyone due to travel through the North West by road over the remainder of Friday and into the evening, the clearest advice is to check your route repeatedly before setting off and to stay alert to official updates. With no firm reopening time announced, the risk remains that the closure between junctions 23 and 26 could extend well beyond the traditional rush hour period.

Drivers with flexibility are being encouraged to delay non essential journeys until Saturday or to consider alternative modes of transport. Those who must travel today should build in substantial additional time and carry water, snacks, and any essential medication in case they become caught in extended delays.

For visitors, tourists, and long distance travellers unfamiliar with the region, it is especially important to pay attention to roadside matrix signs and avoid following diversions that cut through small residential streets or country lanes. Sticking to signed diversion routes and major A roads, even if they appear longer on a map, typically offers a safer and more predictable passage during major motorway closures.

As police continue their investigations into the tragic events of this morning, the M6 incident stands as a stark reminder of how quickly life on the road can change and how a single, deeply sad event can reverberate across an entire region’s transport system in a matter of minutes.