A tragic event has brought the M6 to a standstill, with a woman's death leading to a full day of closures.
On the morning of January 16, 2026, emergency services responded to a distressing situation on the M6 near Haydock. Greater Manchester Police were called around 7:42 AM due to concerns for a woman's welfare. Sadly, despite the swift response, the woman passed away at the scene. While formal identification is pending, authorities have stated that they do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
The M6 motorway has been closed in both directions from J23 A580 East Lancashire Road (Haydock) to J26 M58 (Orrell Interchange) since approximately 8:15 AM on Friday. This closure has caused significant disruption, with National Highways reporting delays of up to 60 minutes and five miles of congestion on the northbound carriageway, and 30-minute delays with four miles of congestion southbound. Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the area and follow the diversion routes.
But here's where it gets controversial... The travel operator has indicated that, due to the nature of the incident, there's no estimated time for the motorway to reopen. It's anticipated that the M6 will remain closed throughout the day, causing significant travel disruption. Traffic updates will be provided in a live blog.
Here's a breakdown of the diversion routes:
Southbound Diversion (follow the hollow square symbol):
- Leave M6 SB at Jct 26.
- At M6 Jct 26/M58 Rbts, take the first exit off the first roundabout and continue to the second roundabout.
- At the second roundabout, take the second exit onto M58 WB and follow for 9.5 km.
- Leave M58 at Jct 3 WB.
- At M58 Jct 3/A570 Rbt, take the first exit onto A570 SB and follow for 8.8 km.
- At A570/A580 (Windle Island) Jct, turn left onto A580 EB and follow for 9.2 km.
- At A580/M6 Jct 23, turn left onto the gyratory and take the fourth exit to rejoin M6 SB.
Northbound Diversion (follow the solid triangle symbol):
- Use the above roads, in reverse order.
And this is the part most people miss... The impact of such closures extends beyond just the immediate delays. Businesses, commuters, and emergency services all face significant challenges when major routes are blocked. It's a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and the ripple effects of incidents like this.
What are your thoughts? Do you think the diversion routes are clearly marked? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below. Let's discuss how these situations can be better managed in the future.
