Commuters across north Manchester faced severe disruption Thursday morning after police closed the M60 in both directions between junction 17 at Prestwich and junction 18 at Simister Island. National Highways said Greater Manchester Police were leading the response and warned of delays exceeding 30 minutes with more than three miles of queuing traffic on approaches to the closure.
What drivers faced
The full shutdown began in the early hours and remained in place through the morning peak. Fire and rescue crews joined police at the scene, although authorities had not released details about the nature of the incident by the time National Highways posted its travel alert. Diversions sent traffic onto the A576 and A6044, with signed loops for clockwise and anti-clockwise traffic around the closed section.
Local roads absorbed spillover. Bury Old Road in Whitefield was shut between Walker Avenue and North Circle in connection with the motorway incident, adding pressure on residents trying to skirt the blockade. Drivers heading toward Rochdale, Middleton, Heywood, and Prestwich were advised to allow extra time or delay non-essential trips.
Who is coordinating the response
Greater Manchester Police said officers remained on scene while specialists assessed what had occurred. National Highways traffic officers supported lane closures and updated electronic signs on connecting routes, including the M62 and M66 approaches that feed the ring road. The agency reminded motorists that re-opening times would depend on police clearance rather than scheduled roadworks.
Thursday’s closure is separate from planned overnight maintenance elsewhere on the M60 network this week, when National Highways scheduled slip-road shutdowns for resurfacing and bridge work. The Simister Island junction is a regular pinch point even on ordinary days because traffic between the M62, M66, and M60 merges in a tight loop.
Impact on the morning commute
Employers in Salford and Bury reported staff arriving late as buses and trams picked up displaced car traffic. School-run routes through Whitefield and Prestwich saw heavier volume on residential streets not built for motorway-scale detours. Ride-hailing apps showed surge pricing on trips crossing the closed segment.
Police have not said whether any arrests were made or whether the incident involved a collision, a security concern, or another type of emergency. Until they do, drivers can only monitor National Highways alerts and GMP social channels for a re-opening estimate.
What to watch
Authorities typically reopen motorway carriageways in stages once forensic work finishes. If the closure extends into the afternoon, knock-on delays are likely on the M62 through Worsley and on the A56 toward Bury. National Highways said it would lift the shutdown when police confirm the scene is safe.
For Greater Manchester, the episode is a reminder that the ring road’s Simister interchange can paralyse cross-city travel within minutes when an incident requires a full police hold rather than a single-lane closure.