M6 Traffic.co.uk
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.
M6 Northbound and Southbound mobile hardshoulder closure (MP 290/5 - 346/6)
18:0516 Sept 2026reported 6 min ago
- Location
- M6 southbound between J23 and J22
- Direction
- Northbound
- Lanes closed
- Hard shoulder closed
- Reason
- Sweeping of road
- Schedule
- 20:35 Sun 5 Apr 2026 → 23:59 Fri 31 Mar 2028
Latest active roadworks on the M6
Roadworks live on the M6 right now.
M6 to M1 link road lane closure southbound
18:0516 Sept 2026reported 6 min ago
- Location
- link road from M6 southbound to M1 J19 southbound
- Direction
- Southbound
- Lanes closed
- Lane closures
- Reason
- Road improvement or upgrading
- Schedule
- 06:00 Wed 16 Sept 2026 → 20:00 Wed 16 Sept 2026
+ 5 more active roadworks - search all M6 traffic news →
Latest planned roadworks on the M6
The next planned roadworks scheduled on the M6.
M6 Northbound Jct 37 to 38 Lane 1 closure (Mp 428/8 - 430/7)
18:0516 Sept 2026reported 6 min ago
- Location
- M6 northbound between J37 and J38
- Direction
- Northbound
- Lanes closed
- Lane closures
- Reason
- Road improvement or upgrading
- Schedule
- 19:00 Wed 16 Sept 2026 → 05:00 Thu 17 Sept 2026
Forecast - not confirmed
+ 42 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 18:12 Wed 16 Sept 2026.
A57 E CLOSED AFTER M6 J21
Time now: Wednesday, 16 September 2026, 18:1218:0016 Sept 2026set 11 min ago✓ Checked by us 18:12
A57 E CLOSED
AFTER M6 J21Overhead Message
WhereM6 southbound and northbound, J18 to J23 · on 4 signsAlso onAlso showing on M56 and M62 signsSinceOn the signs since at least 16:59 Wed 16 Sept 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 18:12 Wed 16 Sept 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.