Drivers travelling on the M6 are being warned that a stretch of the northbound carriageway will remain closed beyond this evening’s peak travel period after a serious crash.
The northbound carriageway is currently closed from junction 39 at Shap to junction 40 at Penrith.
Following the crash shortly before noon today, (Monday) Cumbria police launched an incident investigation which is likely to take several hours. National Highways will then need to inspect the carriageway for any damage and carry out any repairs before the northbound carriageway can reopen.
The southbound carriageway was closed briefly due to smoke from a fire in a vehicle involved in the incident but has since reopened. National Highways traffic officers are at the scene helping to free drivers stuck between junction 39 and the incident; vehicles are being turned around and freed from the motorway at junction 39.
Staff at the North West Regional Operations Centre (NWROC) near Warrington and National Traffic Operations Centre (NTOC) at Birmingham have set electronic signs across the motorway network to warn drivers of the northbound carriageway closure.
A diversion is in place from junction 39 using the parallel A6 but drivers wishing to avoid congestion along the A6 should seek an alternative route or delay their journeys.
