A significant overnight collision led to the closure of a section of the M6 motorway for more than five hours, causing disruption for early morning commuters. The incident occurred on the northbound carriageway between Junction 6, known as Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham, and Junction 7 for Great Barr, shortly after midnight on Monday, January 26.
Emergency Response and Road Closures
West Midlands Police took the lead in responding to the serious crash, with National Highways West Midlands assisting by implementing road closures. The authorities initially warned that the motorway was likely to remain shut throughout the night as investigations and recovery operations were conducted.
National Highways West Midlands provided updates via social media, stating: "The #M6 in the #WestMidlands is closed northbound between J6 #Birmingham and J7 #GreatBarr due to a collision. @WMPolice currently lead the response to this incident, we are assisting with road closures."
Reopening and Ongoing Repairs
The affected stretch of the M6 was fully reopened to traffic after 6am, allowing normal flow to resume for the morning rush hour. However, the northbound exit slip road at Junction 7 remained closed temporarily for emergency barrier repairs following the collision.
In a subsequent update, National Highways confirmed: "The #M6 northbound between J6 #Birmingham and J7 #GreatBarr is now open following a collision overnight. However, the J7 northbound exit slip road remains closed for emergency barrier repairs. No significant delays are reported on approach."
Traffic Conditions and Monitoring
Despite the closure, traffic data from monitor Inrix indicated that vehicles were coping well with the diversion routes. The report noted: "M6 Northbound exit slip road closed due to accident at J7 A34 Birmingham Road (Great Barr). Traffic is coping well."
This incident highlights the swift coordination between police and highway authorities to manage road safety and minimise disruption following serious collisions on major transport routes.
