M6 lorry fire closes J16

A large goods vehicle has overturned on the slip road at junction 16 north of the M6 this morning.

The vehicle was carrying around 25 tonnes of used cooking oil at the time of the incident which spilt onto the slip road and the vehicle set on fire.

Fire crews used around 1,200 litres of foam to extinguish the flames and specialist equipment to contain the oil, foam and water mixture from the incident and to prevent the liquid from entering road drains and nearby fields.

One person was taken to North Staffordshire Hospital by ambulance staff as a result of this incident.

The slip road remained closed for most of the day while the liquid was removed and the vehicle put back onto its wheels and towed from the scene.

Fire engines and specialist vehicles attended from stations at Crewe, Sandbach, Winsford, Ellesmere Port, Warrington and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Environment Agency staff, police and Highways Agency staff were also at the scene today

The northbound entry slip road to the M6 was closed and matrix motorway signs set to 50 mph. Traffic heading west and eastbound on the A500 was allowed underneath the motorway but not onto the slip road.

Evening commuters in Cheshire and Staffordshire are being advised by the Highways Agency that the slip road onto the northbound M6 at junction 16 at Barthomley will remain closed throughout this evening's peak travel period.

Highways Agency contractors have righted and removed the vehicle after transferring the remaining cargo of oil into another tanker.

The spilled oil, which has damaged the two lane slip road along 200 yards, has also been cleared from the carriageway. It had been hoped to re-open the slip road following resurfacing by about 4.30pm but due to a lengthy clean-up operation planing of the damaged carriageway in preparation for the resurfacing has only just got underway.

The work is now likely to be completed by about 8pm but drivers are urged to check travel and traffic conditions before heading towards the junction.

Until the slip road has re-opened, drivers seeking to join the northbound M6 should use other entry slip roads at junction 15 at Stoke-on-Trent or junction 17 at Sandbach.

Highways Agency traffic officers from the outstation at Knutsford are at the scene helping to manage traffic.

Drivers still heading towards junction 16 to use the northbound entry slip road are being sent down the southbound A500 past Stoke-on-Trent to join the northbound carriageway of the motorway at junction 15.

Drivers are advised that this will add extra time to their journeys.The main northbound carriageway is fully-open and has not been affected by the incident.

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