The clockwise M60 in Manchester was closed between junction 22 at the Hollinwood Interchange in Oldham and junction 23 at the Snipe Interchange at Ashton-under-Lyne, leaving long tailbacks across the motorway on Thursday.
Greater Manchester Police officers were at the scene, along with staff from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, as traffic built quickly behind the closure. The A635 at Manchester Road was also shut, adding to delays for drivers trying to move through the eastern side of the city.
National Highways urged motorists heading clockwise to follow the solid diamond diversion symbol on road signs. It said it could not give an estimate for how long the closure would remain in place.
The reason for the shutdown was not immediately made public. Neither police nor National Highways gave details of what led to the closure, which was described as clockwise lanes being closed on the M60 motorway in Manchester.
For drivers caught in the queues, the problem was not just the delay but the uncertainty. With no timetable for reopening, the closure on the M60 Traffic route near Oldham and Ashton-under-Lyne was still the focus of response crews and traffic managers as the disruption continued.
