The M60 is to remain closed into Wednesday afternoon at the Swinton Interchange after a tanker carrying toxic chemicals shed its load.
The lorry, which was hauling 28 tonnes of caustic soda, crashed into the central reservation on the clockwise carriageway of the motorway at around 9am this morning.
The liquid chemical leaked into the road, causing long delays as police closed the busy route this morning.
We are now assisting with the decanting of chemicals following the earlier tanker RTC on the M60 pic.twitter.com/wlV0vwsKku
— Manchester Fire (@manchesterfire) January 6, 2016
Read: Tanker crash chemical spill sees M60 closed at Pendlebury
The M60 is still closed clockwise between Junction 15 at the Swinton Interchange and Junction 17 at Prestwich.
The North West Motorway Police say the morning crash is causing serious backlogs of traffic on the M60 and M61.
Highways England, which manages the motorway network, could not give a definitive time for the route to re-open and delays on surrounding routes are expected to last into this evening’s rush hour.
UPDATE M60 and M61 are heavily congested due to the ongoing incident between j16-17 M60 please use an alternative route.
— NW Motorway Police (@NWmwaypolice) January 6, 2016
#M60 clockwise remains closed btwn J15 and J17 due to a collision and spillage. Diversion: https://t.co/kZjmxQ6959 pic.twitter.com/vKcG5PglDi
— Highways England (@HighwaysNWEST) January 6, 2016
Diversions are in place.
The chemical, commonly used in cleaning products, is harmful to humans and animals.
It’s commonly used as paintstripper, or for clearing blocked drains or pathways.
If touched or inhaled the chemical can cause burns to the skin or respiratory problems.
Roadworkers are now washing the carriageway and transferring the remaining chemical load to a second tanker.
No-one was injured in the accident.
Drivers on the clockwise carriageway are being diverted onto the M61 and are advised to follow a diversion signed using the ‘hollow black square’ symbol.
It will take them from junction 3 of the M61 and back onto the M60 at junction 17 using the signed diversion on local roads
Drivers on the southbound M61 wanting to join the clockwise M60 are also advised to leave the motorway at junction 3 and follow the same diversion.
Drivers can use the anti-clockwise M60 as an alternative route to join the eastbound M62 from junction 18 at Simister Island.
RT @NWmwaypolice: @manchesterfire If you're trapped in the closure we're hoping to get you cleared soon, an officer will advise you
— Manchester Fire (@manchesterfire) January 6, 2016
First Manchester is reporting a series of delays to its bus services between Bolton and Manchester via Walkden because of the motorway closure.
36, 37 Srv – Delays of around 25 mins towards Manchester due to congestion from the M60 closure ^CB
— First Manchester (@FirstManchester) January 6, 2016
A spokesperson for Highways England said: “Traffic officers from the outstations at Milnrow and Newton-le-Willlows are at the scene helping to manage traffic and free drivers stuck behind the incident.
“Staff at Highways England’s regional control centre at Newton-le-Willows and colleagues at the National Traffic Operations Centre at Quinton near Birmingham have set electronic signs across the local, regional and national motorway network to advise drivers of the closure.”
