A serious crash involving two lorries has shut a huge chunk of the M1 this morning with police issuing a warning to drivers and a huge diversion in place.
Traffic management system Inrix reports that part of the M1 northbound is closed between junction 39 at Durkar and junction 40 at Ossett. It is due to a crash involving two HGVs with big queues on the motorway.
Inrix says: "M1 Northbound closed, queueing traffic due to accident, two lorries involved from J39 A636 Denby Dale Road ( Wakefield / Durkar ) to J40 A638 Wakefield Road ( Ossett / Wakefield). Incident occurred at around 05:15 this morning which has since blocked the road."
Read more: Huddersfield's most dangerous road finally set for changes
Traffic is being diverted off the motorway due to the severity of the crash. The diversion takes drivers off the motorway at junction 39 and goes via the A636 and A638 before they can rejoin the motorway at junction 40.
Yorkshire Live has contacted West Yorkshire Police for a statement on the crash and we will be providing you with the latest M1 traffic updates in our live blog which will load below.
Key Events
M1 fully open following earlier crash
M1 expected to be closed until 2pm
Police statement on M1 lorry crash
Road not set to re-open until 9.30am
KEY EVENT
M1 fully open following earlier crash
A spokesperson for National Highways said: "The M1 northbound between J39 and J40 near Wakefield has now re-opened following an earlier collision involving 2 HGVs. There are residual delays of 10 minutes in the area."
KEY EVENT
M1 expected to be closed until 2pm
Location The M1 northbound between junctions J39 and J40
Reason Road traffic collision
Status Currently Active
Time To Clear The event is expected to clear between 14:00 and 14:15 on 26 July 2023
Return To Normal Normal traffic conditions are expected between 14:00 and 14:15 on 26 July 2023
Delay There are currently delays of 30 minutes against expected traffic
Previous Reason Following an earlier accident
KEY EVENT
Police statement on M1 lorry crash
West Yorkshire Police have released a statement following a crash between two HGVs on the M1 this morning which has seen the road closed for over four hours so far.
Officers were called to the scene of the crash shortly after 5am today (July 26) after reports that two lorries had collided between Junction 39 and Junction 40 of the northbound carriageway.
Read the full story here.
Gregory Ford
Contractors on scene assisting with spillage
— National Highways: Yorkshire (@HighwaysYORKS) July 26, 2023The #M1 northbound between J39 and J40 near #Wakefield remains closed following a collision involving 2 HGVs. Contractors are now on scene assisting with the spillage on the carriageway.
There are delays of 45 minutes in the area.
For diversion routes: https://t.co/OwYipwHYTB pic.twitter.com/JPFglAQN2f
Gregory Ford
National Highways confirm large fuel spillage
A spokesperson for National Highways said: "This was a collision involving two HGVs which happened at 5.43am. There was a large fuel spillage as a result.
"The recovery of the vehicles was complete by 7.38am but the clean up and treatment for the spillage continues. There are delays of 45 minutes on the approach and two miles of congestion."
Gregory Ford
Updated expected opening time for M1 northbound
A spokesperson for National Highways said: "The event is expected to clear between 11:30 and 11:45 on 26 July 2023."
Gregory Ford
AA traffic map of closure
Picture: AA
Gregory Ford
Latest traffic report approaching the northbound closure
Location The M1 northbound between junctions J38 and J39
Reason Congestion
Status Currently Active
Return To Normal Normal traffic conditions are expected between 10:15 and 10:30 on 26 July 2023
Cause Road traffic collision
Delay There are currently delays of 50 minutes against expected traffic
Gregory Ford
Traffic increasing approaching closure
Gregory Ford
Delays of 45 mins in the area
A spokesperson for National Highways said: "The M1 northbound between J39 and J40 near Wakefield remains closed following a collision involving 2 HGVs. Traffic caught within the closure has now been released past the scene. There are delays of 45 minutes in the area. "
Gregory Ford
Latest traffic report from Inrix
M1 Northbound closed, queueing traffic due to accident, two lorries involved from J39 A636 Denby Dale Road (Wakefield / Durkar) to J40 A638 Wakefield Road (Ossett / Wakefield). Congestion to Woolley Edge Services. Slow traffic on routes through Wakefield as traffic diverts.
Gregory Ford
Lane opened to released traffic trapped in closure
A report from Inrix said: "Lane one (of four) has now been reopened to get trapped traffic moving."
Gregory Ford
Police warn of long delays in area
Gregory Ford
Full diversion details for larger vehicles
Road users travelling in a vehicle over 14'0" or 4.27m in height are advised to follow the Solid Square diversion symbol visible on local road signs.
- Exit the M1 J39.
- At the roundabout take 3rd exit onto the A636 (Denby Dale Road) and proceed along this road for approximately 1 mile until roundabout with A6186.
- At the roundabout take 3rd exit onto A6186 (Asdale Road). Proceed on A6186 for approximately 1 mile until junction with the A61 (Barnsley Road).
- At the junction take the A61 Northbound (Barnsley Road) and proceed along this road for approximately 3 miles until reaching A61 Northbound (Kirkgate).
- Stay on A61 Northbound (Kirkgate) and continue straight onto the roundabout with Marsh Way.
- At the roundabout take 4th exit (effectively a U-turn) back onto A61 Southbound (Kirkgate).
- Proceed on A61 Southbound (Kirkgate) for approximately 300yds until junction with A638 (Ings Road).
- Turn right onto A638 (Ings Road) and proceed along this road for approximately 3 miles until the junction with the M1 J40.
- At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit to re-join M1 northbound at J40.
Gregory Ford
Full diversion details for normal traffic
Road users travelling in a vehicle below or equal to 14'0" or 4.27m in height are advised to follow the Hollow Circle diversion symbol visible on local road signs.
- Exit the M1 at J39.
- At the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the A636 (Denby Dale Road).
- Proceed on the A636 for approximately 3 miles until the roundabout with Charlesworth Way.
- At the roundabout turn left onto Charlesworth Way and proceed along Charlesworth Way until junction with A638 (Ings Road).
- At the junction proceed on A638 for approximately 3 miles to the junction with the M1 J40.
- At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit to re-join M1 northbound at J40.
Gregory Ford
Diversion route
Diversion - Via the A636 and A638 to re-join at J40.
Gregory Ford
Latest National Highways report
Location The M1 northbound entry slip at junction J39
Reason Road traffic collision
Status Currently Active
Time To Clear The event is expected to clear between 08:30 and 08:45 on 26 July 2023
Return To Normal Normal traffic conditions are expected between 08:30 and 08:45 on 26 July 2023
Alex Grove
Police at scene of M1 crash
A picture tweeted out by Motorway Cameras shows police officers at the scene of the crash.
KEY EVENT
Road not set to re-open until 9.30am
Motorway Cameras says the M1 is not expected to reopen until 9.30am at the earliest.
#M1 Northbound is CLOSED between J39 (Wakefield) and J40 (Wakefield / Dewsbury) due to an accident - Road not expected to fully re-open before 09:30 - Latest @ https://t.co/boZBsvqdaR pic.twitter.com/GSJ600QbI0
— Motorway Cameras (@MotorwayCameras) July 26, 2023
Alex Grove
What we know so far
Police have shut part of the M1 northbound after a serious lorry crash. A diversion is in place with drivers warned of big queues and long delays.
Traffic management system Inrix says: "M1 Northbound closed, queueing traffic due to accident, two lorries involved from J39 A636 Denby Dale Road (Wakefield / Durkar ) to J40 A638 Wakefield Road ( Ossett / Wakefield). Incident occurred at around 05:15 this morning which has since blocked the road. Diversion - Via the A636 and A638 to re-join at J40."
