M61 Closure: Major Traffic Chaos in Greater Manchester

0:00On March 30, major traffic chaos on the M61 in Greater Manchester this morning. The southbound side is fully closed between Junction 5 for West Houghton and Bolton and Junction 4 at the A6. Northbound traffic is stopped between those same junctions due to a police-led incident. Emergency services rush to the scene around 815. They've got the whole stretch lockdown, and even the A579 St. Helens Road nearby is shut off too. Drivers are facing massive backups on both carriageways with cues stretching for miles. Folks trying to get through or stuck, turning what should be a quick drive into a nightmare. Wait, National Highways jumped on X to confirm the closure, saying more details are coming soon. They're urging everyone to stay patient while police handle whatever's going down. Keep an eye on traffic apps for diversions, and we'll circle back if this clears up or escalates. Safe travels out there.