M62 traffic update as snow sparks 4 mile long queues

Drivers have been urged to avoid the M62 unless their journey is essential. 

Snowplough and gritter crews have been working throughout the night as the major route was covered in heavy snow.

Drivers are stuck in four mile long queues of traffic while one lane on the M62 westbound remains closed.

Fuming drivers on the M62 had to shelter in their vehicles as artic weather swept across the country early on Friday morning. 

Videos and pictures taken by motorists showed huge snow drifts forming, as they were forced to wait out the wintry conditions with limited supplies.

One frustrated motorist who spent all night on the M62 described their journey as “hell” after she was forced to sit on the road for ten hours.

She said the Baltic conditions had made the surface feel like an “ice rink” and blasted local police for only getting to her at 8 am this morning. 

She said: “It’s been hell. I’ve just got out of it now. I was there for 10 hours. I did 15 miles in 8 hours. There were no traffic officers or police til 8am. Complete standstill all night. 

“No ploughs or anything. Lorries we’re breaking down all over the road in every lane. Drivers had to bob and weave their own way through it all. 

“People were walking all over the motorway when I left. People were digging others out, police driving up and down. It was a free for all and an ice rink."

Another angry motorist writing on social media said she’d been sitting in her car since 11.40 pm on Thursday – and was running out of water.

She wrote: “So we have been on the M62 since 1140pm last night — it’s now 9am…This is actually a joke.”

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for snow and ice until 6am on Sunday. 

In an update, National Highways has warned that extreme weather conditions are continuing to hamper journeys. 

• Hazardous roads, hundreds of schools closed and major disruption after heavy snow

Lane three on the M62 westbound between junctions 23 (Huddersfield W) and 22 (Denshaw), is still closed. 

Motorists are facing 30 minute delays, as of 8.10am. 

After Thursday’s severe weather alert, National Highways staff spent the day spreading salt on key routes in preparation for the testing conditions. 

The alert continued into the morning.

National Highways is asking drivers to consider if their journey is essential and to go prepared.

Further information is available from National Highways by visiting www.trafficengland.com and the Twitter account, @HighwaysNWEST. 

For urgent real-time assistance, National Highways’ 24/7 contact centre team is able to provide up-to-the minute information on 0300 123 5000.