M56 traffic: Police-led incident shuts major motorway after 'serious collision'

Drivers are being warned of bank holiday chaos in the North West of England this morning following an accident.

The M56 eastbound is closed between J14 (Hapsford) and J12 (Runcorn) due to a Cheshire Police-led incident.

Read Also: Bank of America vice-president named as woman killed in Times Square stabbing

Posting on social media, Cheshire Police confirmed that the road remains closed between J12 and J14 following a “serious collision”.

It stated that a diversion was in place, but that motorists should expect delays, adding that people should avoid the area.

Read Also: Shabana Mahmood hands Cleveland Police £2million to help tackle Middlesbrough crimewave

Read Also: Battery storage cyber attack 'could cause national blackout' and £10bn in damage

The carriageway remains closed to allow emergency services to work at the scene, while National Highways patrols are assisting with traffic management.

The transport organisation warned that delays are likely on the approach to the closure and the local diversion routes.

Traffic within the closure has already been turned around and directed off the M56 motorway from junction 14.

It added that Cheshire Police is continuing to lead the incident, adding that a collision investigation will be carried out.

National Highways warned: “If this closure impacts on your planned route, please allow extra journey time. Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey.”

It comes as millions of drivers are hitting the road to make the most of the bank holiday and one of the final days of the summer holidays.

RAC estimates suggest that around 20 million leisure trips could be taken between Friday, August 28, and Monday, August 31, marking the highest traffic volumes since records began in 2015.

Around 3.4 million trips are expected to take place on bank holiday Monday, while other drivers are likely to take spontaneous trips.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Driving law changes you missed in August – DVSA confirm new MOT test rules and more
• DVLA confirms hundreds of banned number plates ahead of new changes – full list
• Motability to introduce new measures for drivers next year in latest update

Vehicles under 14 ‘6” (4.4m) should follow the solid diamond diversion symbol on road signs:

• Leave the M56 eastbound at J14
• At the J14 roundabout, take the 4th exit onto the A5117
• Follow the A5117 to its signalised junction with the A56 and continue straight onto the A56 towards Helsby
• Continue on the A56 through Helsby and Frodsham until the junction with the A557 and turn left onto the A557 Clifton Road
• At the A557 Clifton Roundabout, take the 1st exit to continue on the A557
• Keep left when approaching the Rocksavage Roundabout (for Manchester, Northwich) and then, at the roundabout, take the 3rd exit to rejoin the M56 at J12

Vehicles over 14 ‘6” (4.4m) should follow the X diversion symbol on road signs:

• Exit the M56 at J14
• At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Hill View Way/A5117
• At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto the M53 slip road to Chester/Manchester/Warrington/M56/Runcorn
• Merge onto M53 southbound
• Continue onto N Wales Exp/A55
• At Junction 40, take the A51 exit to Chester/Nantwich/Whitchurch/A41
• At Vicars Cross, take the 1st exit onto Tarvin Rd/A51
• Continue to follow A51
• At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Holme St/A54
• Continue to follow A54
• Keep left to continue on Chester Rd/A556
• Turn left onto Forest Rd/A49
• Continue to follow A49
• At the roundabout, take the 1st exit and stay on A49
• Turn left onto Northwich Rd/A533
• At Whitehouse Roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Chester Rd/A533
• At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Southern Exp/A533.
• Take the slip road to Mersey Gateway Port/Ashville/Rocksavage Power Plant and Works/Castner Kellner/Runcorn Docks/Weston Point/Picow Farm Road
• Merge onto A5126
• Take a slight left onto A557(S), following the slip road to M56/Frodsham/A56/Clifton/Beechwood
• Merge onto Rocksavage Expwy/Weston Point Expwy/A557
• Take the M56 slip road
• At Rocksavage Roundabout, take a slight left
• Take a slight left onto the M56 slip road to Manchester/Northwich