Chaos hits M6 after crashes
Thousands of drivers were caught up in miles of tailbacks along the M6 in the region today as a crash, a breakdown and roadworks caused traffic chaos.
Three miles of queues built up between junction seven for Great Barr and nine for Wednesbury after a lorry broke down, causing delays of around an hour for rush-hour commuters.
On the southbound stretch, a lane was closed between junction 15 for Stoke-on-Trent and 14 for Stafford following a smash between a van and a car near Stafford Services.
Tailbacks of 10 miles built up before the road reopened 90 minutes after the crash at around 8.30am, but drivers were still being warned journeys from the services to Stafford would take 45 minutes. Continuing work on the managed motorways scheme was also causing delays between junction 11 for Cannock and junction seven.
The road has been reduced to two lanes between junction eight for Ray Hall and five for Castle Bromwich and travel time for the 10 miles between Cannock and Great Barr was 45 minutes.
Elsewhere in Staffordshire, the A518 at Haughton was shut in both directions at the junction with Dale Lane after a motorcyclist came off the road at 8am today.
Work on the £126 million scheme to open up the latest section of the M6 hard shoulder to traffic got under this summer.
It covers a 10-mile stretch between junction eight at the M5 interchange and junction five at Castle Bromwich and is due to take up to 20 months to complete. Highways bosses are aiming for most of the work to be finished in autumn 2013. Trial runs will take place before the hard shoulder officially opens at busy periods in early 2014.
