**Motorway Chaos: M60 Reopens After 30-Hour Closure Following Major Multi-Vehicle Collision**
A significant stretch of the M60 motorway near Stockport was brought to a standstill for over 30 hours after a devastating crash involving multiple heavy goods vehicles, vans, and cars. The incident, which occurred at Junction 27 in Portwood at approximately 11:26am on Monday, led to widespread chaos and long delays for motorists in the surrounding areas.
According to emergency services, the major collision involved three lorries, two vans, and four cars. One of the heavy goods vehicles dramatically breached the central reservation, while another lorry lost its load of beer barrels, scattering debris across both carriageways. The force of the impact left several vehicles severely damaged, with oil and debris strewn across the road, compounding the complexity of the clean-up operation.
In the immediate aftermath, authorities imposed a full closure of the motorway in both directions. National Highways teams, police officers, fire crews, and paramedics swiftly arrived at the scene to assess the situation and begin urgent response measures. With so many vehicles involved and a substantial amount of infrastructure compromised, it quickly became clear that reopening the route would be a substantial undertaking.
The closure resulted in extensive congestion throughout Stockport and neighbouring Tameside, as drivers sought alternative routes. Many reported hours-long delays, and local businesses cited disruptions to deliveries and customer access. Stockport’s already busy network of roads faced unprecedented pressure as drivers attempted to bypass the closed motorway.
After 26 hours, authorities were able to partially reopen the anticlockwise carriageway at around 1:45pm on Tuesday, though one lane remained closed due to lingering damage to the central reservation. The clockwise carriageway, which had sustained even more significant damage, was only reopened fully to traffic approximately 30 hours after the crash took place. Even after traffic was allowed through, residual delays extended for miles as vehicles filtered back onto the motorway.
The extent of the damage required a large-scale repair and clean-up effort. National Highways confirmed that both carriageways had to be resurfaced due to a substantial diesel spillage, which had made the tarmac hazardous. Additionally, a major section of the central reservation barrier needed to be replaced, while crews had to repair a damaged bridge parapet. Several lampposts destroyed in the collision had to be disconnected from the electrical grid and subsequently removed, further lengthening the repair timeline.
Minor works continued even after the main carriageways were reopened. Overnight, two lanes on both sides of the motorway remained closed to allow for final repairs, with National Highways stating that Lane 3 of 3 would stay shut for safety reasons while teams worked to complete the infrastructure fixes.
Despite the scale and severity of the incident, authorities confirmed there were no life-threatening injuries. Three individuals were taken to Stepping Hill Hospital for precautionary checks for minor injuries, a fortunate outcome given the number of vehicles involved in the crash.
Greater Manchester Police has since appealed to the public for any dashcam footage or eyewitness accounts that could shed light on how the collision unfolded. Investigators hope that additional information will assist in determining the precise causes as they look to prevent similar occurrences in future.
As traffic now returns to normal and repair work nears completion, questions remain about the conditions that led to such a dramatic and disruptive event on one of the north-west’s busiest motorways. The resilience and coordination shown by emergency services and road crews have been praised, though the incident stands as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities present on the nation’s road network.