Holiday getaway drivers face long delays as southbound carriageway between junctions 12 and 13 is is expected to remain shut for much of Saturday
The lorry fire that has closed the M6 motorway for repairs. Photograph: Central Motorway Police G
Holiday getaway drivers face being caught up in long delays after a fierce lorry fire closed a busy motorway.
Police warned those planning on heading south along the M6 that it might remain shut for repairs for much of Saturday from junction 13 for Stafford south, after fire melted the road.
Millions are expected to hit the roads this weekend after many schools broke up for the summer. Images of the lorry fire emerged on social media, while motorists and passengers vented their frustrations.
Staffordshire police said repairs to the carriageway are expected to take until 4pm, with motorists being urged to divert to the M1 instead.
The ferocity of the fire was evident in a picture tweeted by the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) showing all three lanes of the motorway covered in flames.
Highways England said: “The M6 southbound is closed between junction 13 (Stafford south) and junction 12 (Cannock) due to a severe HGV fire which engulfed all lanes of the carriageway shortly after 1.30am this morning.
“The intensity of the fire has caused extensive damage to the carriageway and resurfacing is required.”
The RAC said it was expecting 7.5 million motorists to hit the road by the end of the weekend.
Roads are predicted to be at their busiest between 9am and 4pm on Saturday.
The RAC’s head of external affairs, Pete Williams, said: “Our data shows that summer holiday traffic is going to be concentrated on our roads this coming weekend, causing gridlock and delays for many on the busiest ‘getaway’ routes.”
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