The M58 is partially closed after a "serious multi vehicle" crash.
According to National Highways, the motorway is closed westbound between the M6 J26 near Wigan and J3 near St Helens due to the crash. Emergency services are on scene.
Traffic management Inrix states there is "long delays due to accident".
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Key Events
Congestion until after 9pm
Police statement
Katie Westwood
Further updates tomorrow
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Katie Westwood
Disruption until the early hours of tomorrow
National Highways have said that the M58 won't be clear until between 3.30 and 3:45 tomorrow morning, May 18. The motorway is still closed westbound within Junction 4.
Police have not issued a recent update on the situation, but accident investigation work is ongoing.
Katie Westwood
Accident investigation underway
An Inrix update says the M58 Westbound is still partly shut (within Junction 4) due to accident investigation work at Junction 4 A5068 Glenburn Road (Skelmersdale)
Katie Westwood
Update from National Highways
National Highways North-West has provided the following update:
The M58 is now only closed westbound within J4 (near Skelmersdale). Traffic is being diverted around the scene via the exit and entry slip roads.
Lancashire Police and Traffic Officers remain in attendance.
Katie Westwood
M58 Westbound still closed
According to traffic monitoring service Inrix, the M58 is still closed westbound, with one lane closed in the opposite direction.
KEY EVENT
Congestion until after 9pm
Traffic conditions are not expected to return to normal until after 9pm now. The latest update from National Highways says that the incident on the M58 is expected to clear between 9.15pm and 9.30pm.
Conaill Corner
Incident took place around 12.54pm
Lancashire Fire and Rescue said: "At 12:54 on 17 May 2024, fire engines from Ormskirk, Preston and Leyland attended a road traffic collision on the M58 between junction 3 and 4.
"We are in attendance, alongside partner agencies, and at this time, both the M6 and the M58 are closed between Jct 3 M58 and Jct 26 M6 both directions. We’d ask you to avoid the area, and we will bring you an update when we are able to."
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Road will remain closed for 'several hours'
Lancashire Police have said the road probably won't re-open for "several hours".
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Return to normal even later
National Highways now say that the event is expected to clear between 19:30 and 19:45
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Congestion on M6
According to Inrix, on the M6 J23 traffic is also slow eastbound as onlookers slow to view
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Expected to clear between 7 and 7.15pm
According to National Highways, the incident is now expected to clear between 19:00 and 19:15
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'Hope everyone is ok'
Stuck on #m58 very warm very bored but hope whatever has happened everyone involved is ok.
— Dan Tay (@DanTay564622026) May 17, 2024
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Expected to clear at 7pm
According to National Highways, the event is expected to clear between 18:45 and 19:00.
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Diversion routes
Road users are advised to follow the Solid Diamond diversion symbol on road signs.
- At the M6 J26/M58 western roundabout, take the first exit onto the link road eastbound.
- At the M6 J26/M58 eastern roundabout, take the first exit onto the link road northbound.
- Turn left at the A577 junction heading westbound.
Road users are advised to then follow the Hollow Diamond diversion symbol on road signs.
- At M58 junction 5/A577 junction, join A577 (St Annanough).
- At A577/B5312 roundabout, take the first exit onto B5312 westbound (Grimshaw Road).
- At B5312/A5068 roundabout, take the first exit on to A5068 (Glenburn Road) southbound.
Road users are advised to then follow the Hollow Triangle diversion symbol on road signs.
- At A5068/M58 junction 4 roundabout take third exit onto A5068 northbound (Glenborn Road).
- At A5068/B5312 roundabout, take the first exit onto B5312 westbound (Railway Road).
- At B5312 (Railway Road/B5312 (Liverpool Road) junction, turn left onto B5312 (Liverpool Road) westbound.
- At B5312 (Liverpool Road)/White Moss Road turn right onto B5312 (Skelmersdale Road)
- At B5312/A570 roundabout, take the first exit onto A570 southbound (Ormskirk Road).
- At M58 junction 3/A570 roundabout, take the third exit and rejoin the M58 westbound.
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'Looks serious'
One X user said: "Multi car crash. Looks serious."
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Aintree Racecourse issues warning
Aintree Racecourse has warned anyone going to tonight's fixture to find an alternative route
— Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) May 17, 2024Please note, any racegoers travelling to Aintree for this evening's fixture!
Be aware that the M58 is currently closed heading into Liverpool and is not expected to re-open before 5 pm.
Please consider an alternate route if you plan to travel via the M6 or M58.
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'Hundreds of cars stationary'
On X (formerly Twitter), one user said: "There are hundreds of cars sat stationary on the M58 for well over an hour in [the] heat!"
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Long delays
Traffic management Inrix says there are "long delays" on the M58 Westbound, which is closed due to the multi-vehicle crash
KEY EVENT
Police statement
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: "We were called at 12:57pm today to a report of a collision between three vehicles between junction 3 and junction 4 on the M58.
"We are in attendance, alongside partner agencies, and at this time, the motorway is closed between Junction 26 of the M6 and Junction 3 of the M58.
"We’d ask you to avoid the area, and we will bring you an update when we are able to. "
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Fire Brigade in attendance
Lancashire Fire and Rescue have confirmed that they are in attendance and are "working with police".
Olivia Williams
Police at the scene
Olivia Williams
Drivers urged to find alternative route
Drivers have been urged to find an alternative route.
It follows the M58 being closed on both directions between Jct 3 M58 and Jct 26 M6 following a crash.
Olivia Williams
M58 partially closed
— National Highways: North-West (@HighwaysNWEST) May 17, 2024The #M58 is CLOSED westbound between #M6 J26 #Near Wigan and J3 near #StHelens due to a serious multi vehicle collision.
Emergency services are on scene.
More info to follow. pic.twitter.com/BxByN4x7x5