Several areas across the region have been earmarked for severe congestion
Good Friday saw a difficult start to the Easter Bank Holiday when it came to the roads as a result of a serious incident on the M6 early in the morning.
A lorry left the road and, as a result, the M6 southbound was closed for the majority of the day. Special recovery equipment was required to make the scene safe and it required a full carriageway closure from junction 24 to 23. Later, due to the sheer volume of traffic, the motorway would close from junction 26 to 23.
The impact of this was the traffic was diverted from the M6 to the M61 in some instances which created issues heading southbound. Northbound on the M61, people heading to Blackpool and the Lake District caused congestion. This was exacerbated by a broken down car.
Those travelling on Saturday had a clearer time on the roads. However, there are significant disruptions to both Transpennine Express Service and Avanti West Coast due to strike action and engineering works respectively. Overnight, last night, on the M6 in Cumbria, an accident closed the M6 southbound with diversions now in place. That closure remains in place throughout Easter Sunday morning. We'll have all the latest through the day for you.
Follow live updates in the blog below.
All lanes are now open and traffic has returned to normal following a broken down vehicle that had caused delays on the M65 eastbound from junction 6 to junction 7.
The broken down vehicle has now been removed. All lanes are open and traffic is as normal, Inrix reports.
One lane is closed and there is slow traffic due to a broken down vehicle on the M65 eastbound from junction 6 A6119 Whitebirk Drive to junction 7 A6185 Hyndburn Road.
"One lane closed and slow traffic due to broken down vehicle on M65 Eastbound from J6 A6119 Whitebirk Drive (Blackburn / Whitebirk Roundabout) to J7 A6185 Hyndburn Road (Rishton / Accrington)."
Traffic alert service Inrix reports:
"Heavy traffic due to holiday traffic on A584 Promenade in both directions between the South Pier and the North Pier."
Normal service resumed on Northern between Preston and Blackpool North following earlier object caught on the overhead line.
One lane closed and slow traffic due to broken down vehicle on M65 Eastbound from J6 A6119 Whitebirk Drive (Blackburn / Whitebirk Roundabout) to J7 A6185 Hyndburn Road (Rishton / Accrington).
The rail line between Preston and Blackpool North is blocked due to a balloon caught in the overhead wires. Services will be delayed or cancelled.
Disruption is expected to continue until 4pm today, Northern Railway have said.
In a service update shared by Northern, they said:
"Due to a balloon being caught in the overhead electrical wires, train services are unable to run between Preston and Blackpool North, currently in that direction only. However, as trains and crew become displaced, this will affect services leaving Blackpool North.
"Network Rail response staff are currently en-route with an ETA of 15:00. Once on-site, we will be able to provide more information."
All lanes open and traffic returned to normal, earlier accident investigation work on M6 Southbound from J38 A685 (Tebay) to J37 A684 (Kendal).
A woman is said to be seriously injured following a collision with a lorry on the M6 in the early hours of this morning (April 17).
The incident took place at around 3.40am on the M6 southbound carriageway between junctions 38 and 37 in Cumbria. The woman, in her 40s, was driving a red Toyota IQ and suffered a collision with a white Scania lorry towing a Morrisons liveried trailer in the early hours.
Read the full story here.
To recap: Traffic is coping well.
The road reopened at around 10:40 with lanes one and two (of three) remaining closed.
According to National Highways North West:
2 lanes remain closed for clear up/recovery. Delays of less than 10 minutes on the approach to J39.
One lane closed due to broken down vehicle on M62 Eastbound between J11 A574 Birchwood Way (Birchwood) and J12 M60 J12 (Eccles Interchange).
Lane 3 has been re-opened between J38 and J36 after an earlier road traffic collision. Delays still expected.
LANE 3 OF M6 SOUTHBOUND BETWEEN J36 - J38 IS NOW OPEN AFTER THE RTC EARLIER. THERE MAY STILL BE DELAYS IN AND AROUND THIS AREA WHILST AGENCIES CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THIS INCIDENT.
One lane closed due to emergency barrier repairs on M6 Southbound from J44 A689 (Carlisle North) to J43 A69 (Carlisle). Traffic is coping well.
As the M6 southbound remains completely closed to all traffic, motorists are advised to leave at J39 and use the A6 and A590 through Kendal to rejoin at J36.
Road users are advised to follow the Hollow Circle diversion symbol on road signs
M6 Southbound is closed due to accident investigation work from J39 B6261 (Shap) to J37 A684 (Kendal). Traffic is coping well. The closure is expected to remain in place across the morning following an accident first reported around 04:20. A diversion is now in place.
Police said: "Cumbria Police are dealing with a serious RTC on the M6 Southbound between Junctions 36/37/38, the motorway is closed off while we deal with the incident. Diversion signs will be posted accordingly on the motorway. More updates to follow in due course."
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and plan alternative routes where possible.
The A56 Northbound is closed and there's a build up of slow traffic due to an overturned vehicle from A682 (Bent Gate Roundabout, Rossendale) to A680 Manchester Road (Bent Gate Roundabout, Haslingden). A diversion was implemented.
Follow the live blog here.
There is slow traffic on the A5085 Blackpool Road around Deepdale Retail Park.
Travel time is six minutes.
Traffic is said to be heavier than normal on A6 Thurnham Street, Lancaster, through the one-way system.
Traffic alert system Inrix reports:
"Traffic heavier than normal on A6 Thurnham Street through the one way system before South Road."
Heavy traffic in both directions at Blackpool Promenade.
The congestion is due to bank holiday traffic on the A584 Promenade between the South Pier and the North Pier.
There are delays on A584 Promenade between A583 Talbot Road (North Pier, Talbot Square) and Chapel Street (Central Pier).
Travel time is four minutes.
A rush of holidaymakers on the A591 Lake Road Northbound from Kirk Lane (Waterhead) to A5075 Borrans Road (Ambleside) has caused slow traffic.
Traffic alert service Inrix reports:
" Slow traffic due to holiday traffic on A591 Lake Road Northbound from Kirk Lane (Waterhead) to A5075 Borrans Road (Ambleside)."
The road has cleared following an accident on A596 Queen Street in Aspatria, Cumbria. Traffic is said to have returned to normal in both directions near North Road.
The road was previously blocked in both directions following the accident.
Traffic alert service Inrix reports:
"A596 Queen Street in both directions partially blocked, slow traffic due to accident near North Road."
There have been reports of an accident on A596 Queen Street in Aspatria, Cumbria.
The accident is understood to have taken place near North Road and traffic is coping well at present.
Traffic alert service Inrix reports:
" Reports of accident on A596 Queen Street near North Road. Traffic is coping well."
Northern assist have said that disruption is expected to continue until the end of the day.
The northern railway line has said that due to staff shortages Skipton and Carlisle services will be disrupted throughout the day. Services between Hellifield and Kirkby Stephen will be cancelled or suspended.
A spokesperson for Northern assist said: "Due to signalling staff being taken ill between Skipton and Carlisle services will be disrupted.
"Train services will be cancelled or suspended between Hellifield and Kirkby Stephen. Disruption is expected until the end of the day."
There are a number of major UK roadworks in place over the Easter weekend. Drivers should be mindful of any disruption this may cause to journeys.
The roads are clear this morning but those setting off to travel via train may face disruptions throughout the day.
Reduced services are in place on the Transpennine Express Service and Avanti have shared guidance due to engineering work taking place over the weekend. Key routes from Euston to Preston and Manchester Airport and Preston will be either not running or facing heavy disruption.
Avanti have advised customers plan ahead and check the Avanti West Coast website before travelling.
A spokesperson for Avanti said: "Over Easter (Friday 15 – Monday 18 April), Network Rail will be carrying out major upgrade works on sections of the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Scotland. As a result, there’ll be no trains to/from London Euston, some journeys will take longer and may involve a rail replacement service.
"We strongly recommend you travel either side of the Easter weekend (15 – 18 April). If you need to travel, please make a reservation, plan ahead, and check the Avanti West Coast website before travelling."
Transpennine will be operating very limited service on the following routes on Saturday and Sunday:
Anglo Scottish Route - Liverpool & Manchester to Lancaster, Carlisle and Scotland via Preston.
There will be no TPE trains in operation on the West Coast Mainline on Saturday or Sunday and anyone that needs to make an essential journey between Liverpool/Manchester and Glasgow/Edinburgh via Preston and Carlisle should seek alternative transport or travel on Friday or Monday instead.
North Route - Liverpool & Manchester to Leeds, Hull, York, Scarborough, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Edinburgh via Huddersfield
South Route - Manchester to Doncaster, Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Cleethorpes via Sheffield
Tickets booked for Transpennine Express journeys only will be accepted on other trains on like for like journeys.
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