Live Updates – M60 and M66 Chaos Amid Traffic Incidents
Rush hour chaos has spread across the M60 and M66 as a second incident compounds delays on key Manchester orbital routes. Drivers are facing lengthy queues, with two lanes closed on the M60 anticlockwise stretch between junctions 16 (Pendlebury) and 17 (Prestwich and Whitefield). The situation is contributing to congestion that stretches back toward the M61 spur and beyond Simister Island, just before the M62 junction at Heywood and Middleton.
What Happened
Initial disruptions involved a crash on the M60 which led to a lane closure on the anticlockwise carriageway near junction 13 at Worsley. That incident alone caused significant tailbacks and prompted authorities to move involved vehicles to the hard shoulder. As traffic attempted to navigate the aftermath, a second incident or related breakdown appeared to worsen conditions, with a heavy ongoing effect on both directions of the M60 and spillover onto the M62.
Current Scene – Two Lanes Closed
Highways officers have closed two lanes on the M60 anticlockwise from J16 Pendlebury to J17 Prestwich and Whitefield. Traffic cameras indicate a lorry breakdown or a similar immobilisation near the scene, with workers assessing the situation at the roadside. The two-lane closure remains in place, and drivers should expect continued heavy congestion in both directions around the junciton area.
Where Delays Are Concentrated
With vehicles still straddling the affected stretch, queues have formed in multiple directions. Westbound traffic on the M62 is also seeing growing delays as drivers divert or slow to pass the incident zone. The tailbacks extend past Simister Island toward the M62 junction 19, affecting routes toward Heywood and Middleton. Motorists approaching from the east on the M60 corridor are facing 60-minute-plus delays as they fight to get past the incident and the subsequent lane closures.
Impact on Commuters and Advice
For those commuting through the region, the latest reports suggest hour-long queues on both the M60 and M62, with the worst impact near the Worsley junction area and the Pendlebury/Prestwich corridor. The situation has prompted some drivers to seek alternative routes or to leave extra time for their journeys. Emergency services and highway maintenance crews are coordinating to clear the scene and reopen lanes as soon as it is safe to do so.
What to Do If You’re Affected
- Monitor live traffic updates for the latest on lane availability and closures along the M60 and M62 corridors.
- Consider alternative routes if possible, such as avoiding the anticlockwise M60 near Pendlebury and Prestwich during peak times.
- Allow extra travel time and stay with your vehicle’s guidance if you encounter queued traffic.
When Will It Clear?
Updates will be provided as authorities assess the scene and work to relieve congestion. While the vehicles have been moved to the hard shoulder, the lingering queues and the broader impact on both directions of the M60 and the adjacent M62 mean relief may take some time, particularly as rush hour traffic builds elsewhere on the network.
Additional Live Traffic Notes
As crews work to resolve the second incident and restore two lanes, drivers should expect ongoing delays in the area. The scene around the Worsley junction is being monitored, with updates typically issued by highways agencies and local media as new information comes in. The congestion is a reminder that even a single incident on the Manchester orbital motorways can ripple across major routes and extend into neighboring motorways during peak periods.