M60 Closed for Second Day After Massive Crash Near Stockport: Traffic Chaos and Investigation Ongoing

M60 Closure Causes Widespread Traffic Disruption After Major Pile-Up

It’s turning into a nightmare for anyone in and around Greater Manchester: the M60 motorway has been completely shut for over 24 hours after a huge crash that tangled up nine vehicles and left a trail of chaos stretching between junctions 25 and 1 near Stockport.

The incident, which happened just before lunchtime on July 7, left drivers stranded and emergency crews scrambling. The spot, close to the Portwood roundabout and the instantly recognisable Stockport Pyramid, saw a collision that included three heavy goods vehicles, four cars, and two vans. Diesel gushed across the tarmac, lamp columns got flattened, and at least one lorry tipped beer barrels all over both sides of the motorway. It’s not every day you find yourself stuck in traffic next to a river of lager and diesel fumes.

Three people were taken to hospital, thankfully with only minor injuries, but the real headache has been the aftermath. Emergency teams spent hours clearing wreckage and spilled cargo, dealing with leaking fuel and smashed roadside lamps. The crash was bad enough, but when a lorry jumps the central barrier and barrels cross the carriageway, things take a nasty turn for clean-up crews.

National Highways put out diversion signs almost immediately, but it’s been slow-going for everyone involved. Motorists have seen tailbacks snaking for miles, local roads groaning under the pressure as drivers try to find a way around — and patience is running thin. Businesses along the diversion routes have noticed the standstill, and commuters are wondering when they'll get a straight shot home again.

Police are digging deep into what triggered the pile-up. Greater Manchester Police are urging anyone with dashcam clips or who saw what happened to get in touch, using log 1196 if calling on July 7. The search is on for clues that might shed light on why so many vehicles ended up tangled together — and why one HGV veered straight into oncoming traffic. There's no evidence of serious injuries so far, which, given the number of vehicles, is almost a minor miracle.

When Will the M60 Reopen?

As the wrecked vehicles were hauled away, it became clear the problems wouldn’t end there. Diesel soaks into tarmac, and lamp columns don’t just snap back into place. Emergency repairs continued late into the night and well into the next day, leaving the entire stretch between Stockport’s eastern and southern junctions locked down. Drivers bypassing the area now rely largely on National Highways’ diversion, but even that’s overwhelmed with the extra load.

Frustration is mounting for countless commuters. Social media is packed with photos of the blockade and angry posts from workers stuck on the way to Manchester, hoping not to miss their shifts. Local businesses—like delivery firms and service vans—are counting the cost in lost hours and missed appointments.

There’s pressure on authorities to get this vital link moving. But between fuel contamination and serious roadside damage, repair crews are still battling a mix of hazards, with no public estimate yet of when the road will fully reopen. Until then, drivers are better off planning longer journeys, heeding the warnings, and, if possible, just staying away from the M60 near Stockport altogether.