Huge M6 delays as police incident closes motorway at Spaghetti Junction
There were huge delays on the M6 this morning when a stretch of the motorway was shut down near Birmingham throughout rush hour.
The motorway was completely closed at Spaghetti Junction for nearly three hours while officers dealt with a woman who was spotted on a bridge over the extremely busy road.
The woman, described as 'vulnerable' by police, is now safe and is being looked after by medics.
The junction resembled more of a car park than a motorway as the incident unfolded, with many drivers leaving their cars and wandering around the carriageway until police began reopening the road at 9am.
The northbound carriageway was closed between Junction 4 for Coleshill and Junction 6 - Spaghetti Junction - while the southbound route was shut within Junction 6 after police were called at around 6.15am.
Commuters faced delays of up to two hours during rush hour as a result of the incident - with congestion reaching as far back as Junction 9 near Walsall for motorists heading south.
The A38 Aston Expressway was also shut for travellers heading into Birmingham and there were lengthy delays in West Bromwich, Great Barr and other surrounding areas as drivers attempted to avoid the chaos.
Traffic began to return to normal at 9am when northbound motorists were allowed to continue their journeys and both carriageways were fully open again by 9.45am.
West Midlands Police and Highways England were dealing with the incident and advised drivers to find alternative routes and allow extra travel time.
Superintendent Dean Hatton, from Central Motorways Policing Group, said: “I would like to thank the public for their patience during this morning’s incident.
"We have worked very closely with Highways England colleagues to ensure the safety of everyone involved and although there will be some on-going congestion around Spaghetti Junction all roads are now open."
Highways England gave the following diversion advice during the closure:
"Southbound traffic should leave at J6, to take the A38M into Birmingham and turn at Park Circus junction to rejoin the A38M north to rejoin the M6 southbound.
"Northbound traffic should follow the hollow circle diversion symbol, to leave the M6 at J4 and use the M42."
