M6 delays finally over as lorry crash causes 12 hours of chaos

Motorists heading southbound faced journeys three hours longer than normal after the crash happened near Great Barr at 4.30am, with the motorway not fully back open until around 4pm.

The HGV was only the vehicle involved in the crash and nobody was injured, however the central reservation was left with major damage and the lorry was not able to be removed for several hours.

There was more than 11 miles of congestion as a result, with traffic backed up through the Black Country and into Staffordshire towards Junction 11.

Two out of three lanes were shut southbound and there were also delays northbound until early in the afternoon, with one lane shut.

Traffic was also backed up on the M54, M5 and smaller roads in the surrounding areas, with Transport for West Midlands warning of delays for buses in the Black Country.

A Highways England spokesman said: "Service providers and Highways England traffic officers remain on scene completing an extensive clean up operation to remove a lorry embedded into the central reservation.

"The lorry has caused a large amount of damage to the central reservation barrier.

"Repairs will need to be carried out following the removal of the lorry to make it safe for other road users.

"Traffic travelling south towards the midlands may wish to follow the strategic diversion route set out via the A500, A50 and the M1. "

The lorry was driving south when it hit the barrier between Junction 7 for the A34 and Great Barr and Junction 6 Spaghetti Junction at around 4.30am.

Photos from the scene showed the damaged central reservation barrier was left covering the two outside lanes, with police officers, highways crews and recovery specialists sent to clear the area.

It is the second serious crash in the region inside 24 hours after a car overturned near Walsall.

"There is further disruption on the network following this incident on the M54 eastbound between J1 and the M6 J10A with delays of 20 minutes present," the Highways England spokesman added.

"The link road from the M5 J1 northbound to the M6 southbound at J8 is also heavily congested.

"Road users are advised to expect disruption and allow extra journey time, you may wish to re-route or delay your journey. "

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman Jordan Eggington confirmed that one paramedic officer was sent to the scene but was stood down as nobody needed treatment.