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A section of the M6 is still shut after a massive oil spill sparked travel chaos (Image: NATIONAL HIGHWAYS)
A section of the is still shut after a massive oil spill sparked travel chaos for motorists and brought traffic to a standstill. The lorry smashed into a central reservation at 1pm on Monday near Preston that resulted in a “significant diesel spillage”. Emergency services, as well as Highway officials, raced to the scene.
The northbound carriageway in Lancashire has been shut, with divers urged to take a different route on their journeys. A National Highways spokesperson said: “The M6 in Lancashire is closed northbound between J31 and J32 near Preston to allow for emergency resurfacing works to take place following a collision involving a lorry which resulted in a significant diesel spillage. The lorry struck the central reservation barrier, coming to rest on top of it. As a result of this, the fuel tank was ruptured, spilling the entire contents over the road surface. A complex recovery and clear-up operation has been ongoing throughout the afternoon. Unfortunately all 4 lanes of the road surface need resurfacing.”
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Motorway closed northbound for emergency barrier repairs
The motorway is closed northbound for emergency barrier repairs between J31 (Samlesbury) and J32 (M55) in Preston.
Lane 4 (of 4) is also closed on the southbound carriageway between J32 and J31A and delays are building on approach to both closures, reports Lancashire Evening Post.
Traffic monitoring services Inrix reports: “Severe delays due to emergency resurfacing and barrier repairs from J31 A59 Preston New Road (Samlesbury) to J32 M55 (Broughton Interchange).”
Severe delays are currently present (Image: Getty Images)
Traffic queues building up
Resurfacing work was successfully completed overnight but there is still work to be done repairs the central reservation.
Traffic on the M6 northbound is queuing back to junction 29 of the M6 and well onto the M61 northbound too, reports Blog Preston.
The traffic is being diverted off the M6 at junction 31 and northbound via the A6, which is seeing significant delays.
Traffic has built up on the motorway (Image: Getty Images)
National Highways say delays of 2 hours
A post on X by National Highways says delays for drivers could be up to two hours long.
It said to expect heavy congestion and to consider alternative route for anyone planning on taking the route this morning.
Drivers should allow extra time if planning a journey (Image: Getty Images)
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Welcome to our live blog as section of the M6 is still shut after a massive oil spill.
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