A serious collision forced the closure of the M56 in both directions near Manchester Airport on Saturday night, with Greater Manchester Police and ambulance crews still on scene in the early hours of Sunday as traffic backed up on the M60.
Where the motorway is shut
National Highways said the M56 was closed westbound between junction 1 and junction 5, and eastbound between junction 5 and junction 2 at Sharston. The agency described the incident as ongoing police work with North West Ambulance Service support, and warned drivers to expect the closure to remain in place while investigators examined the crash site.
Traffic officers diverted vehicles off the motorway at junction 2, with witnesses reporting long queues approaching Wythenshawe and Altrincham. Local roads around the airport terminals also saw congestion as travellers tried to reach early flights without using the blocked stretch.
Police investigation through the night
By 3 a.m. Sunday, National Highways said Greater Manchester Police were carrying out “complex investigation works” and that the motorway would stay shut. The Manchester Evening News, which tracked the closure live, quoted the agency as saying there were no significant delays reported in mapping systems even though physical barriers remained in place.
Police have not released the number of vehicles involved, the condition of those hurt or whether any lanes might reopen before a full forensic survey is finished. GMP had been approached for comment as the live blog updated through the night.
Impact on airport access
Junction 5 serves Manchester Airport terminals 1 and 2, making any extended closure a headache for passengers relying on taxis, hotel shuttles and hire cars. Airport operators continued to advise travellers to check road signs and allow extra time, while some drivers routed via the M60 and A5103 instead of the direct airport spur.
Rail links to the airport remained available for passengers who could reach stations by alternative roads, but road-based crews faced detours that added tens of minutes to short hops from south Manchester.
What drivers should expect Sunday
National Highways typically reopens motorways only after police release the scene, which can take many hours when casualties are serious or when debris spans multiple lanes. Until GMP issues a statement with casualty details and a likely reopening time, the safest assumption for Sunday morning traffic is that the M56 will stay closed between Sharston and the airport interchange.
Anyone who must travel should monitor National Highways alerts, avoid stopping on slip roads to view the incident and follow marked diversions rather than cutting through residential streets near Wythenshawe, where residents reported heavy overnight traffic as drivers searched for shortcuts.
Greater Manchester’s road network has seen several high-profile closures this year, but airport-adjacent shutdowns are particularly sensitive because cargo handlers and airline staff often commute on the M56 at unsociable hours. Until police lift the cordon, employers at the airport campus will be weighing shift changes against the risk of staff arriving late for the first wave of Sunday departures.