Drivers being urged to avoid M6 northbound around Preston (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Drivers being urged to avoid M6 northbound around Preston

3:21pm Monday 9th July 2012 in News

Drivers are being urged to avoid the northbound M6 around Preston and seek alternative routes after the carriageway was shut between Junctions 31 at Samlesbury and 31a at Longridge following a serious incident at 1.30pm.

All trapped traffic has now been released from the northbound carriageway and a diversion is in place back to Junction 32 of the motorway at Broughton from Junction 31 via the A59 (travelling west), A6 (north) and M55 (east).

Traffic on the northbound M6 and M61 are back to Junctions 29 and 9 respectively.

The southbound carriageway was also shut for a time but re-opened at 2pm although there are still some southbound queues in the area from Junction 32.

Drivers are advised to check on traffic conditions before setting out on northbound journeys around this part of the motorway network this afternoon.

Highways Agency Traffic Officers from the outstation at Samlesbury are currently assisting Lancashire Police to manage traffic in the area. Highways Agency colleagues in the control room at the North West Regional Control Centre at Newtown-le-Willows have set electronic signs across the network to advise drivers of the closure. The Highways Agency's National Traffic Operations Centre at Birmingham has also set electronic motorway signs further afield to help drivers take alternative routes.

The Highways Agency provides live traffic information via its website www.highways.gov.uk/traffic, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile platforms, such as the iPhone. Local Twitter services are also available at @HAtraffic_nwest and @HAtraffic_pen9 for Transpennine routes.

Providing they can do so safely, road users can also call the Highways Agency Information Line (0300 123 5000) to keep up to date with road conditions