M61 Traffic Update: A major section of the M61 motorway in Greater Manchester remained closed on Friday after a serious police-led incident triggered major disruption for drivers travelling near Bolton.
Authorities shut the motorway in both directions between Junction 2 and Junction 4, forcing traffic onto lengthy diversion routes and causing heavy congestion across surrounding roads.
Emergency services and National Highways teams responded to the incident during the early hours, with motorists warned to expect significant delays throughout the day. Drivers travelling through Greater Manchester faced long queues as traffic built up around Bolton, Kearsley and nearby connecting roads.
M61 Traffic: What Happened?
The M61 was closed in both directions between Junction 2 and Junction 4 near Bolton following what officials described as a "police-led incident." Authorities immediately stopped traffic from entering the affected stretch while emergency crews worked at the scene.
The closure impacted both northbound and southbound traffic, leading to severe disruption during the busy morning travel period. Drivers heading toward Bolton and nearby Greater Manchester routes experienced delays as vehicles were diverted away from the motorway.
M61 Traffic: What Caused the Crash on M61?
Officials have not yet confirmed the exact nature of the incident that caused the motorway closure. National Highways and police authorities only described the situation as a police-led operation, while investigations and recovery work continued on Friday.
At this stage, no detailed information regarding injuries, vehicles involved, or the precise circumstances has been officially released.
M61 Traffic: Diversion Routes
National Highways issued detailed diversion instructions for motorists travelling in both directions.
Northbound Diversion
Drivers travelling northbound were advised to:
- Leave the M61 at Junction 2
- Follow the A666 Kearsley Spur northbound
- Continue via the A6053 and A5082 routes
- Rejoin the motorway near Junction 4
Southbound Diversion
Southbound motorists were instructed to:
- Exit at Junction 4
- Follow the A6 southbound
- Continue along the A5082 and A6053 diversion routes
- Rejoin the M61 at Junction 2
Traffic officials urged road users to follow diversion signs carefully and allow additional travel time.
M61 Traffic: Emergency Response and Official Statement
Emergency services, police officers and traffic management teams remained at the scene throughout Friday as authorities worked to manage congestion and investigate the incident.
National Highways issued an official advisory warning drivers about severe delays and encouraged motorists to plan before travelling through Greater Manchester.
"If this closure impacts your planned route, please allow extra journey time. Plan, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey." Officials continued monitoring traffic conditions while coordinating with local authorities to reduce disruption on surrounding roads.
M61 Traffic: Impact & Delays
The motorway closure created widespread congestion across Bolton and neighbouring areas. Traffic built up heavily along diversion routes, particularly near the A666 Kearsley Spur, A6 and connecting junctions leading toward the M60.
Commuters travelling through Greater Manchester faced extended delays during the morning rush hour, while public transport and local road networks also experienced increased pressure because of diverted motorway traffic.
Several motorists reported slow-moving traffic across nearby town centres as drivers attempted to avoid the closure zone.
M61 Traffic: Current Situation
As of Friday afternoon, the M61 remained closed between Junction 2 and Junction 4 in both directions. Emergency and recovery operations were still underway, while traffic officers continued diverting vehicles through alternative routes.
Authorities advised drivers to regularly check traffic updates before starting journeys in the affected area.
M61 Traffic: When Will the Traffic Reopen?
Officials have not yet provided an exact reopening time for the motorway. The duration of the closure will depend on the progress of police investigations and any necessary recovery or safety operations.
Drivers have been warned that disruption could continue for several more hours.
M61 Traffic: Recovery Work
Recovery teams remained on-site, carrying out operational and safety work after the incident. Traffic officers and engineers were also assessing the affected stretch of motorway before any decision could be made about reopening lanes.
Police and National Highways are expected to release additional updates once recovery operations are completed and conditions are considered safe for traffic to resume.