The M60 motorway in Greater Manchester remained closed in both directions as of around 13:00 BST on Tuesday, 31 March 2026, following a police incident on Barton Bridge that caused widespread disruption across the regional road network. Greater Manchester Police confirmed officers were called to the scene at approximately 09:40 BST after receiving reports of what has been described as a “concern for welfare”. Emergency services attended the incident and remained in place throughout the morning and into the early afternoon, reports The WP Times.

The closure developed in stages. Shortly before 10:00 BST, initial restrictions were introduced on the anticlockwise carriageway, where two lanes were closed between junction 11 and junction 10. Traffic conditions deteriorated rapidly, and by approximately 10:30 BST, authorities had escalated the response to a full closure of the motorway in both directions.

National Highways confirmed that the affected stretch of the M60 extends between junction 9 at Trafford and junction 12 at Winton. The agency stated that the motorway had been shut while emergency services dealt with the incident, and advised motorists to avoid the area where possible. The impact on traffic was immediate. By around 10:30 BST, congestion had begun to build between Eccles and Trafford Park, key access points on the western side of Manchester. As the closure remained in place, queues extended along approach routes to the affected section of motorway.

Traffic monitoring data indicated that tailbacks reached up to three miles at peak disruption, with delays of approximately 15 minutes reported on the approach to the closure. These delays were compounded by the diversion of vehicles onto surrounding local roads, which also experienced increased congestion.

Motorway camera images showed long lines of stationary traffic on both carriageways, with vehicles being directed off the motorway before reaching Barton Bridge. In addition, National Highways confirmed that traffic trapped within the closure zone was being gradually released under controlled conditions. However, despite these measures, the motorway itself remained closed.

The incident took place at Barton Bridge, a critical section of the M60 that carries traffic over the Manchester Ship Canal. This location forms part of the M60 orbital route, which encircles Greater Manchester and connects major residential areas, industrial zones and commercial centres.

Closures at Barton Bridge are particularly disruptive due to the strategic importance of the crossing. Alternative routes are limited, and any shutdown typically results in rapid congestion across both the motorway network and surrounding urban roads. The disruption has also affected access to Trafford Park and the Trafford Centre, two of the busiest destinations in the area for retail, employment and logistics. Vehicles attempting to reach these locations have been forced to divert, placing additional pressure on local infrastructure.

Greater Manchester Police issued a statement confirming that officers were dealing with a welfare-related incident and warned that significant delays should be expected. Motorists were advised to avoid the area where possible and to consider alternative routes.

National Highways also urged drivers to allow extra time for their journeys and to monitor live traffic updates before travelling. Despite these advisories, the scale of the disruption meant that alternative routes experienced increased traffic volumes. As of 13:00 BST, there was no confirmed timeline for the reopening of the motorway. Emergency services remained at the scene, and the closure continued to affect both directions of travel between junction 9 and junction 12.

The incident highlights the vulnerability of key transport infrastructure within Greater Manchester. The M60 is one of the busiest orbital motorways in the United Kingdom, and disruptions at critical points such as Barton Bridge can quickly affect traffic across a wide geographic area. While authorities continued to manage the situation and release trapped vehicles, delays persisted across the motorway and surrounding road network into the early afternoon. Drivers were advised to avoid the affected section and to expect ongoing disruption until the incident is resolved and the motorway is reopened.

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