Key Points
- Full Reopening Achieved: The clockwise carriageway of the M60 motorway at Junction 15 has officially reopened to all traffic following a major multi-vehicle collision.
- Emergency Resurfacing Required: The incident resulted in a large fluid and debris spillage, causing significant structural damage to the tarmac and requiring immediate overnight resurfacing works by highways engineers.
- Conflicting Vehicle Counts: Emergency services provided differing accounts of the scale of the incident; Greater Manchester Police reported five vehicles were involved, while National Highways initially noted a collision between one car and two heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).
- Severe Motorway Disruption: The incident, which occurred during the morning rush hour, caused delays exceeding 30 minutes and triggered widespread gridlock across Greater Manchester’s broader strategic road network.
- Normal Traffic Resumed: National Highways confirmed via an early morning update that all maintenance works are complete and congestion on approach has entirely cleared.
Bolton (Bolton Today) June 17, 2026 - Commuters across Greater Manchester have been handed a sigh of relief this morning after transport authorities confirmed the total resolution of a major traffic incident at one of the region's busiest motorway intersections. The clockwise stretch of the M60 at Junction 15—the crucial interchange where the ring road merges with the M61 towards Bolton—is now fully operational following intense overnight structural repairs. The route had been completely locked down for a significant duration after a multi-vehicle crash yesterday morning left the road surface severely compromised by an extensive chemical and fuel spillage.
Why was the M60 closed near Junction 15?
The prolonged closure of the strategic route was caused by a combination of physical debris and substantial highway damage stemming from a multi-vehicle crash that took place during yesterday’s peak morning commuter rush. The impact of the collision resulted in a substantial spillage of automotive fluids across the live running lanes.
According to official incident logs compiled by regional transport authorities, the spilled substances quickly degraded the structural integrity of the asphalt, rendering the lanes entirely unsafe for high-speed traffic. As reported by Isobel Forbes of The Bolton News, National Highways confirmed that the clockwise carriageway within Junction 15 had to remain closed throughout the remainder of the daytime hours and deep into the night. This allowed specialized engineering crews to safely access the site, excavate the contaminated road surface, and lay down entirely new tarmac before the motorway could be safely returned to public use.
How many vehicles were involved in the M60 collision?
Discrepancies emerged between different public agencies regarding the exact number of vehicles caught up in the initial impact, though all authorities agreed on the severe nature of the incident. In the immediate aftermath of the collision, responding agencies worked rapidly to establish the scale of the scene.
As reported by reporter Isobel Forbes of The Bolton News, Greater Manchester Police stated that the incident appeared to involve a total of five separate vehicles. This assessment contrasted slightly with the preliminary data released by the network operator. In the same coverage by Isobel Forbes of The Bolton News, it was noted that National Highways initially reported that the collision had involved just three vehicles, specifically identifying them as one passenger car and two heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). Despite the varying initial counts from the emergency services and highway controllers, the combined footprint of the vehicles and the ensuing fluid leakage required a full-scale multi-agency response.
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What did National Highways say about the motorway reopening?
National Highways issued an official statement early this morning confirming that the emergency engineering works had concluded successfully and that all lane restrictions had been lifted. The agency utilized its regional communication channels to update motorists who had faced nearly 24 hours of sporadic diversions and gridlock.
As reported by Isobel Forbes of The Bolton News, National Highways released an update confirming:
"The M60 reopens in Greater Manchester clockwise within Junction 15 (Bolton/M61) following a large spillage. Resurfacing works are now complete. No delays on approach."
The operational update signals that both the physical clearing of the vehicle wreckage and the complex technical process of overnight asphalt curing were executed according to the strict safety parameters required for the UK motorway network.
How bad were the traffic delays for Greater Manchester motorists?
The logistical fallout from the collision caused immediate and widespread disruption across the entire northern and western sections of the Greater Manchester motorway network. Because Junction 15 acts as a primary artery connecting Manchester’s outer ring road to the towns of Bolton, Wigan, and the wider Lancashire area, the closure choked off a vital transit route.
As reported by Isobel Forbes of The Bolton News, motorists trapped in the initial tailbacks faced immediate delays of more than 30 minutes as traffic was forced to divert around the affected section of the motorway. The congestion quickly rippled outward from the M60/M61 junction, impacting surrounding local A-roads and alternative orbital routes. Commuters experienced prolonged travel times throughout the duration of yesterday afternoon and evening, with heavy congestion lingering across surrounding routes for much of the day until the successful completion of the resurfacing works overnight. Transport monitors have confirmed that traffic conditions have now officially returned to normal seasonal levels across the affected sectors.