DRIVERS planning to travel through Cumbria this evening are being advised the northbound M6 is likely to remain closed north of Penrith for several hours following a serious collision shortly before noon today (Thursday, April 28).
The incident involved an empty waste tanker travelling southbound between junction 41 and junction 42 of the motorway. The tanker collided with the central reservation barrier before crossing over into lane three of the northbound carriageway – damaging about 20 metres of safety barrier and closing both carriageways.
A Cumbria Police investigation into the incident is underway. National Highways is working to re-open the southbound carriageway as soon as possible with a lane three closure remaining in place for emergency barrier repairs.
However, the northbound carriageway is likley to remain closed into this evening’s peak travel period while the police investigation continues and arrangements are made to remove the tanker from the motorway and to carry out any barrier and carriageway repairs.
The incident happened several miles north of junction 41 with vehicles on the northbound carriageway stuck between the junction and the incident.
National Highways traffic officers are working to free drivers stuck behind the incident by turning them around on the carriageway back towards junction 41 where they will be able to join the diversion route or the southbound M6.
A diversion is in place in both directions with drivers using the A6 to travel between junction 41 and junction 42.
Congestion on the diversion route is already very heavy so drivers should delay journeys or seek alternative routes if they are heading towards Carlisle or to Scotland.
National Highways' 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 carriageway closure.
Drivers are advised to check traffic conditions before setting out on journeys. Live traffic information is always available at www.trafficengland.com or from National Highways’ 24-7 customer contact centre at 0300 123 5000. Updates will also be posted to @HighwaysNWest – National Highways’ regional Twitter feed.
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