A serious lorry crash on the M66 brought traffic to a standstill on Tuesday morning, after a heavy goods vehicle jackknifed and forced the closure of a key southbound stretch between Ramsbottom and Bury.
The incident happened on the M66 southbound between Junction 1 for the A56 Walmersley Road at Ramsbottom and Junction 2 for the A58 Rochdale Road at Bury. Early reports from traffic service INRIX said the motorway was blocked after a jackknifed lorry caused long delays, with congestion building back towards the Ramsbottom junction.
National Highways later said the vehicle appeared to have struck the central reservation barrier before jackknifing and coming to rest against the nearside barrier. The impact left debris across several lanes and caused significant damage to the central reservation, making it unsafe for traffic to continue as normal.
The southbound carriageway was fully closed between the A56 at Edenfield and Junction 2 at Bury while emergency crews, police and highways teams worked at the scene. The disruption was not limited to one side of the motorway, as lane two on the northbound carriageway between Junction 2 and Junction 1 was also closed because of the barrier damage.
No injuries reported as emergency crews secure motorway
Greater Manchester Police said no injuries had been reported and confirmed there had been no arrests. Officers said the lorry was blocking several lanes and warned motorists to expect lengthy delays because of debris spread across the road.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said two fire engines from Ramsbottom and Bury fire stations were called at around 7.10am. Firefighters remained at the scene with police while the area was made safe and preparations began for the recovery of the damaged vehicle.
National Highways contractors were also sent to help with traffic management and assess the condition of the central reservation. Drivers were advised to follow official travel updates from National Highways before using the route.
Images from the scene showed traffic at a standstill near Nangreaves, while another photo released from the motorway showed visible damage to the central reservation. National Highways estimated delays of around 20 minutes and roughly two miles of congestion approaching the southbound closure, with similar delays reported northbound due to the lane restriction.
Why the M66 delays lasted longer than a normal breakdown
The crash caused a wider traffic problem because the lorry could not simply be moved from the carriageway. A specialist recovery operation was needed to remove the jackknifed vehicle safely, while highways teams also had to inspect the damaged barrier before reopening lanes.
That combination of vehicle recovery, debris clearance and infrastructure checks meant drivers faced disruption for several hours. Local routes around Ramsbottom, Bury and Edenfield also came under pressure as motorists tried to avoid the closed section of motorway.
The M66 is an important link for traffic heading through north Greater Manchester, and incidents involving heavy goods vehicles often create knock-on delays across nearby roads. Similar disruption has previously been seen during major motorway incidents across Greater Manchester, where closures and lane restrictions quickly affected wider commuter routes.
Although the crash caused heavy congestion and significant damage to the motorway barrier, the most important detail confirmed by emergency services was that no one was injured. Drivers using the M66 were urged to allow extra time, avoid the affected stretch where possible and rely on official updates until recovery work and safety checks were completed.
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