Cheshire: M56 ‘in process of being re-opened’ following near 8 closure due to a serious collision

Update: The M56 is in the process of being re-opened following a near-eight closure.

The westbound carriageway between J14 (Elton) & J15 (M53) was closed just before 11am following a single-vehicle collision.

There are severe delays from Preston Brook with delays quoted at around 1 hour and 30 minutes,

“Entry ramp closed, severe delays and queueing traffic due to emergency resurfacing repairs on M56 Westbound at J14 A5117 (Chester Services / Helsby). Congestion to J11 A56 (Preston Brook). Also seeing delays on surrounding routes. The main carriageway is now open after a road closure of about seven and a half hours.”

UPDATE – The #M56 in #Cheshire is in the process of being re-opened westbound between J14 (#Elton) & J15 (#M53) following a collision however, this can take some time.

As soon as the road has re-opened, we will provide a further tweet to confirm.

Thank you for your patience. pic.twitter.com/wyIvePVO1m

— National Highways: North-West (@HighwaysNWEST) January 20, 2023

Earlier report: There are severe delays on both sides of the M56 in Cheshire.

A serious collision on the M56 in Cheshire has led to the westbound lanes being closed between junctions 15 (Elton) and 14 (M53).

Emergency services, including the air ambulance, have been at the scene.

There is currently six miles of stationary traffic stretching back to the Runcorn turn-off.

The latest traffic report for the Westbound side states: “Road closed, severe delays and queueing traffic due to crash investigation work on M56 Westbound from J14 A5117 (Chester Services / Helsby) to J15 M53 J11.

Congestion to J12 (Runcorn). slow traffic on the A5117 as people divert around the closure. Accident occurred just before 11:00 this morning which has since closed the road.”

There are also very long delays Eastbound due to a broken down bus.

A traffic report for the Eastbound side states: “Severe delays, two lanes closed and queueing traffic due to broken down busus on M56 Eastbound from J15 M53 J11 to J14 A5117 (Chester Services / Helsby).”

“Lanes two and three (of three ) are closed. Traffic is not helped by onlookers slowing down to look at the ongoing closure on the westbound side. Travel time is around one hour and ten minutes.”

A diversion route has been put into operation it includes exiting at J14, taking the third exit at the roundabout onto the A5117, and remaining on that road to J10 of the M53.

A diversion route is in operation for the westbound side, for those wishing to access the M53 southbound, take the first exit at the roundabout. For those wishing to access the M53 northbound, take the third exit.

For those wishing to continue westbound on the M56 towards North Wales, take the second exit onto the A5117, continue west, and take the third exit at the Dunkirk Roundabout.

Continue on the A5117 westbound to the Park Gate Interchange with the A540, turn left at the junction with the A540, and take the third exit at the next roundabout onto the A494 westbound. The diversion ends at this point.

Motorists are advised to seek alternative routes and to expect delays in the area.