M6 delays as drivers stuck in 90-minute queues and lanes shut for emergency bridge repairs - latest updates

Drivers are facing delays of up to 90 minutes on the M6 this afternoon, as emergency bridge works are being carried out by National Highways. Currently, four lanes are merging into one, causing severe congestion on the M6 Thelwall Viaduct Southbound from J21 A57 Manchester Road (Woolston) to J20 M56 (Lymm Interchange).

Queues are currently backed up to before J22 (Newton Le Willows) and roads through Winnwick and Warrington are also suffering. Travel time is predicted to be an extra 90 minutes at the moment, according to National Highways.

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Road traffic cameras show huge lines of queues this afternoon (April 10) as drivers become trapped in the hour-long congestion. The announcement was first made at 10am this morning, and it has continued to cause chaos on the southbound carriageway throughout the day.

National Highways tweeted earlier this morning: "Three lanes (of four) are closed on the M6 southbound between J21A (for the M62) and J21 (for Warrington) for emergency bridge joint repairs." Since then, congestion has been building throughout the day, with five miles of queues now at a standstill.

This is a live event, keep up to date with the latest below.

Bridge joints are mechanisms in the carriageway which allow the bridge deck to expand and contract safely with changes in the weather. This weekend's work will allow National Highways to plan a full repair at a later date which is likely to require a full overnight closure of the motorway over the viaduct. Carrying out the temporary repair this weekend will also reduce the risk of sudden, unplanned lane closures at peak times.

Read more about the closures, which were planned and