M6 Faces Two-Hour Delays After Lorry Spills Offal Across Carriageway
Motorists are experiencing severe disruptions on the M6 this morning, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, following a significant incident involving a lorry spill. A heavy goods vehicle shed its load of offal across the carriageway, leading to extensive delays and lane closures.
Incident Details and Lane Closures
The spill occurred on the M6 northbound between Junction 14 for Stafford and Junction 15 for Stoke-on-Trent. As a result, three out of four lanes have been closed to facilitate cleanup operations. National Highways reported the incident at approximately 5:30 AM, with traffic officers and specialist contractors deployed to the scene.
In an early warning to drivers, a spokesperson stated on social media platform X at 5:45 AM: "Traffic stopped on the #M6 northbound between J14 (#Stafford) and J15 (#StokeonTrent) due to a broken down lorry which has shed its load onto the carriageway. Lane closures being installed. Allow extra journey time as likely to cause long delays this morning."
Cleanup Efforts and Traffic Impact
The cleanup process is described as protracted due to the nature of the spillage, requiring specialist equipment to handle the material safely. This has resulted in severe delays of up to two hours between Junctions 13 and 15, with congestion stretching for approximately nine miles. Vehicles are being diverted to the outside lane where possible, but traffic remains heavily affected.
National Highways provided an update at 6:47 AM, confirming: "Lanes 1, 2, and 3 of (4) are closed on the #M6 north J14 (#Stafford) - J15 (#StokeOnTrent) as a HGV has spilt its load of offal across the carriageway. #TrafficOfficers are on scene with specialist contractors en-route to begin the clean-up work at the scene."
Travel Advice for Motorists
Drivers are strongly advised to plan ahead and consider alternative routes to avoid the affected area. National Highways recommends using the M1 and A50 for those travelling from further afield. A statement on their website reads: "If this incident impacts on your planned route, please allow extra journey time. Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey."
Further information is available through National Highways' traffic website, travel apps, or their regional X feed. Motorists can also contact their 24/7 information line at 0300 123 5000 for up-to-date details. As of 9 AM, the lane closures remain in effect, with ongoing cleanup operations expected to continue causing significant disruptions throughout the morning.
