12-hour closure of M6 between Junction 27 to Junction 26 lifted

The M6 between Junction 27 and Junction 26 during Friday afternoon Pic: Traffic England

A 12-hour motorway closure of a busy stretch of the M6 to the south of Preston has been lifted.

Highways England North West said the southbound closure, which was put in place by Greater Manchester Police around 2am on Friday (16 August), was now clear.

The body of a woman was found near to Junction 27 on the southbound side of the motorway.

Police had been called to a concern for welfare and are appealing for information and dashcam, footage from any drivers in the area around that time on Friday.

A southbound M6 motorway closure was put in place between Junction 27 to Junction 26 and this was lifted around 2pm on Friday.

Delays of more than an hour were reported on the M6 southbound back to Junction 28 for Leyland during Friday as drivers were diverted via alternative routes.

The northbound motorway stretch was also closed around Junction 27 too for around an hour on Friday morning as police completed accident investigation work.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “At around 1.25am this morning (Friday 16 August 2024), we were called to the junction 27 of the M6 for a concern for welfare of a female. We attended the scene and sadly discovered the body of the female.

“The M6 southbound between junction 27 and 26 is closed while officers continue with their investigations. Significant delays are to be expected in the area for the immediate future.

“Thank you for your patience at this time. If anyone has any information about this incident or any footage, including dashcam, CCTV, or mobile phone footage is asked to call 101 quoting log number 171 of 16/08/2024.”

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