Latest live M6 traffic news

Live M6 traffic news and updates for M6 junctions, plus real time travel reports on delays, accidents, roadworks and snow

The M6 is a key road for Britain, as the motorway links the Midlands with the Scottish border, sending traffic through Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Liverpool, Manchester, Lancaster and Carlisle. And given the M6’s location at the centre of Britain’s motorway network, it should be no surprise that the 232-mile road is prone to delays around the clock – especially during peak travel periods such as bank holiday weekends and summer school holidays.

As the M6 consists of the standard three lanes for much of its length, congestion and tailbacks can form quickly, and subsequently incidents can take a long time to clear. So everything including accidents, roadworks, and even seasonal problems such as snow, can have a severe effect on adjoining roads.

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Just like most other major motorways, the morning and evening rush hours are usually the worst times for delays, and hold-ups on the M6 can scupper commutes and long journeys. So if you’re planning to use any section of the M6, this page is one of the most useful travel companions with travel alerts, live updates and an incident map for both northbound and southbound lanes.

Scroll down to find real-time alerts from the M6 via our specially built Twitter feed, which collates vital updates as they happen from the Highways Agency, official police accounts and other traffic news feeds. We’ve also got a live map showing exactly where the delays are, plus a useful list of all the motorway’s junctions...

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Live M6 Traffic Updates

M6 live traffic map

You’re never far from a traffic jam on the M6 motorway, but fortunately you can keep one step ahead of the delays with our live and continuously updated M6 traffic map.

The map below shows live updates on the current problem areas of the M6 for roadworks, accidents or general congestion causing delays on the road...

M6 weather report

Details of the latest weather warnings in the M6 area from the Met Office... 

The history of the M6 motorway

Among its many claims to fame, the M6 incorporates Britain’s first ever stretch of motorway – formally known as the Preston By-pass, which was opened in 1958. Nowadays that’s just a fraction of the M6 overall, which stretches for 232 miles from Junction 19 of the M1 near Rugby, all the way to Gretna. The final section was finally completed in 2008.

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Features of the route include Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham, which is more formally known as Junction 6 of the M6. The M6 also boasts the longest viaduct in Britain, running for 3.5 miles between Castle Bromwich and Gravelly Hill, and the second highest motorway stretch in the country – the Shap Fell section is 320m above sea-level, and beaten only by the M62 motorway at Saddleworth Moor. 

M6 junctions

All of the M6 junctions on the southbound and northbound carriageways are detailed below...  

Northbound exits Junction Southbound exits
Gretna (Green) B7076 Longtown A6071 M6 J45 No access
Todhills Rest Area Services Todhills Rest Area
Carlisle (North), Galashiels, Hawick A7 J44 Carlisle A7, Workington (A595) Hexham A689
Carlisle, Hexham, Newcastle A69 J43 Carlisle, Hexham, Newcastle A69
Carlisle (South) A6 J42 Carlisle (South) A6
Southwaite services Services Southwaite services
Wigton B5305 J41 Wigton B5305
Penrith, Workington, Keswick, Scotch Corner A66 J40 Penrith, Keswick, Brough, Scotch Corner A66
Shap (A6) J39 Shap, Kendal (A6)
Tebay services Services Tebay services
Brough A685 Appleby B6260 J38 Kendal, Brough A685
Kendal, Sedbergh A684 J37 Kendal, Sedbergh A684
No access Services Killington Lake services
Kirkby Lonsdale, Skipton A65 Kendal, Barrow-in-Furness A590 J36 Kirkby Lonsdale, Skipton A65 Barrow-in-Furness A590
Burton-in-Kendal services Services No access
Carnforth, Morecambe A601(M) (A6) J35 Carnforth, Morecambe A601(M) (A6)
Lancaster, Morecambe, Kirkby Lonsdale,Heysham A683 J34 Lancaster, Morecambe A683
Lancaster (South) A6 J33 Garstang, Fleetwood A6
Lancaster (Forton) services Services Lancaster (Forton) services
Blackpool, Fleetwood M55, Preston (North), Garstang A6 J32 Blackpool M55, Preston (North) A6
Preston (East), Longridge B6242 J31A No access
Preston (Central), Blackburn (North),Clitheroe A59 J31 Preston (Central), Clitheroe A59
No access J30 Manchester, Bolton M61 Leeds (M62) Blackburn (M65)
Burnley, Blackburn, Preston (South) M65 J29 Burnley, Blackburn M65
Leyland B5256 (A49) J28 Leyland B5256 (A49)
Charnock Richard services Services Charnock Richard services
Parbold, Standish, Chorley A5209 J27 Parbold, Wigan A5209
Wigan A577 Skelmersdale, Liverpool, Southport M58 J26 Wigan A577 St Helens Liverpool Southport(M58) Kirkby, Fazakerley (M57)
Wigan A49 J25 No access
No access J24 Ashton-in-Makerfield, St. HelensA58
Haydock, Ashton-in-Makerfield, St Helens, Manchester, Liverpool, Newton-le-WillowsA580 J23 Haydock, Ashton-in-Makerfield, St Helens, Manchester, Liverpool, Newton-le-Willows A580
Newton-le-Willows A49 Leigh A579 J22 Warrington A49
Manchester, Leeds M62 J21A Liverpool, Southport M62
Warrington, Irlam A57 J21 Warrington, Irlam A57
No access J20 Macclesfield, Warrington A50
No access J20A North Wales, Chester, Runcorn, Manchester & AirportM56
North Wales, Chester, Runcorn M56 J20 No access
Manchester & Airport, Stockport A556 (M56 east) J19 Northwich, Knutsford,Macclesfield A556
Knutsford services (Sign Posted No HGVs use Poplar 2000 Services (Lymm), but HGV fuel pumps and a small HGV parking area are provided) Services Knutsford services
Holmes Chapel, Middlewich, Winsford, Northwich, Chester A54 J18 Holmes Chapel, Middlewich, Winsford A54
Congleton, Sandbach A534 J17 Congleton, Sandbach A534
Sandbach services Services Sandbach services
Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe, Nantwich A500 J16 Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe, Nantwich A500
Keele services Services Keele services
Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme A500 J15 Stoke-on-Trent, Stone, EccleshallA500 Derby (A50)
Stafford services Services Stafford services
Stafford, Stone, Eccleshall A34 J14 Stafford (North) A34
Stafford A449 J13 Stafford (South & Central) A449
Telford A5 J12 Cannock, Wolverhampton A5, North Wales, Telford (M54)
No access J11A The South, Lichfield M6 Toll
(M6 Toll), Cannock A460 J11 Wolverhampton A460
Hilton Park services Services Hilton Park services
North Wales, Wolverhampton, Telford M54 J10A No access
Walsall, Wolverhampton A454 J10 Walsall A454
Wednesbury A461 J9 Wednesbury A461
The South West, Birmingham (West),West Bromwich M5 J8 The South West, Birmingham, West Bromwich M5
Birmingham (NW), Walsall A34 J7 Birmingham A34
Birmingham (Central & North) A38(M) Sutton Coldfield A5127 J6 Birmingham A38(M) & A38
Birmingham (NE), Castle Bromwich A452 J5 No access
No access J4A The North (M1), Tamworth M42(N), M6 Toll The SOUTH, London (M40), Birmingham (S), N.E.C. & Airport M42 (S)
Lichfield, Coleshill A446, The South west (M5) Birmingham (South), Solihull M42(S) J4 Coventry, Birmingham Airport,NEC A446
The North west (M6 Toll), TamworthM42(N) J3A No access
Corley services Services Corley services
Coventry (North), Nuneaton A444,Bedworth B4113 J3 Coventry (North), NuneatonA444, Bedworth B4113
Coventry A46 Leicester M69 (M1) J2 Coventry (East) A46, Leicester,Hinckley M69 (M1(N))
Rugby A426 J1 Rugby, Lutterworth A426
No access M1 J19 Felixstowe, Corby, Kettering A14,Birmingham, Leicester M1(North), London, Northampton M1 (South)

Planning on going cross country as well? Then you better take a look at our M62 live updates page also...

Current affairs and features editor

Chris covers all aspects of motoring life for Auto Express. Over a long career he has contributed news and car reviews to brands such as Autocar, WhatCar?, PistonHeads, Goodwood and The Motor Trader.

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