M6 Traffic.co.uk
The M6 can be a very busy motorway and our goal is to help regular commuters and users of the M6 motorway find the latest updated up to date traffic news and updates about the M6. Our traffic and roadworks information is updated at least every 5 minutes throughout the day and night, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.
In addition to the latest traffic updates and road reports happening right now, and planned roadworks, we also provide some of the official statistics about the M6 as often this can put the M6 news and information into context.
If you think our site is helpful for your M6 journeys why not bookmark our page to find us quicker. We all love a quick journey that goes smoothly without the traffic jams and delays! Please drive carefully as we want all our M6 Traffic.co.uk users back here safely today, tomorrow and whenever you need to find the latest M6 updates.
M6 Traffic is dedicated to all the latest M6 traffic news — M6 traffic reports and information about M6 delays, M6 roadworks, M6 accidents and incidents, updated through the day. Whether you are heading north for Preston, Lancaster and Carlisle or south for Birmingham and the Midlands, check the M6 before you set off.
M6 Traffic is part of UK Traffic News, and specifically part of our Traffic News England network. Traffic News England carries traffic news for all the major roads throughout England — so if you are looking for news about another road, you will find it there.
Latest M6 Traffic News
Search all the latest M6 traffic news
Latest accident or incident on the M6
The most recent accident or incident on the M6 that we are aware of.
laneClosures
16:47 (4:47pm)17 Oct 2026reported 5 min ago
- Location
- M6 northbound between J8 and J9
- Direction
- Northbound
- Lanes closed
- Lane closures
- Reason
- Road or carriageway or lane management
- Schedule
- 16:38 (4:38pm) Sat 17 Oct 2026 → 16:53 (4:53pm) Sat 17 Oct 2026
Latest active roadworks on the M6
Roadworks live on the M6 right now.
M6 Northbound and Southbound mobile hardshoulder closure (MP 290/5 - 346/6)
16:43 (4:43pm)17 Oct 2026reported 8 min ago
- Location
- M6 southbound between J23 and J22
- Direction
- Northbound
- Lanes closed
- Hard shoulder closed
- Reason
- Sweeping of road
- Schedule
- 20:35 (8:35pm) Sun 5 Apr 2026 → 23:59 (11:59pm) Fri 31 Mar 2028
+ 4 more active roadworks - search all M6 traffic news →
Latest planned roadworks on the M6
The next planned roadworks scheduled on the M6.
M6 Southbound Jct 40 to 39 Lane 3 closure with Narrow lanes (Mp 459/4 - 455/7)
16:43 (4:43pm)17 Oct 2026reported 8 min ago
- Location
- M6 southbound within J40
- Direction
- Southbound
- Lanes closed
- Lane closures
- Reason
- Maintenance work
- Schedule
- 06:00 (6am) Mon 24 Aug 2026 → 20:00 (8pm) Fri 13 Nov 2026
Forecast - not confirmed
+ 25 more planned roadworks - search all M6 traffic news →
Road closed — on the overhead signs now
National Highways’ overhead signs are showing a road closure, as at 16:52 (4:52pm) Sat 17 Oct 2026.
A5 (W) CLOSED AFTER M6
Time now: Saturday, 17 October 2026, 16:52 (4:52pm)14:17 (2:17pm)17 Oct 2026set 3 hrs ago⚠ 3 hrs old✓ Checked by us 16:52 (4:52pm)
A5 (W) CLOSED
AFTER M6Overhead Message
WhereM6 southbound, at J16 · on 2 signsAlso onM6 signs onlySinceOn the signs since at least 08:25 (8:25am) Sat 17 Oct 2026We check these overhead signs at least every five minutes, but we can't guarantee a sign is still current if an incident or issue has been cleared and the sign has not been updated yet. Signs and news can each carry something the other does not - check both before you travel.
Search all the latest M6 traffic news
Updated 16:52 (4:52pm) Sat 17 Oct 2026
Powered by National Highways’ Transport Data Feeds.
About the M6 Motorway
The M6 is the UK’s longest motorway, running around 230 miles from the M1 at Catthorpe (Junction 19) north through the West Midlands, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria to the Scottish border at Gretna. It is also one of the busiest — carrying heavy commuter and freight traffic, especially around Birmingham and the North West — so roadworks, delays and incidents are common. The M6 Toll relieves the busy stretch around Birmingham (Junctions 3A to 11a). It always pays to check the latest M6 traffic news before you set off.
How Busy Is the M6?
The M6 is Britain’s longest motorway and one of its busiest. The Department for Transport counts traffic on it at 99 separate points. On its busiest stretch, between Junction 20 and Junction 21 near the Thelwall Viaduct, it carries 187,521 vehicles a day.
It is also the country’s freight motorway: between Junctions 8 and 9 at Great Barr, 31,213 lorries use it every day — better than one vehicle in six. That is why an incident on the M6 can build a queue so quickly.
See the full M6 traffic statistics » · The M6 junction by junction »
Source: Department for Transport road traffic statistics, 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.