Monday, 5 January 2026 began with widespread travel disruption across Staffordshire and Cheshire after overnight snow and ice triggered multiple lorry crashes, road closures and the suspension of rail services on key commuter and freight routes. One of the worst-hit corridors is the A50 in Staffordshire, which has been closed in both directions after two separate crashes involving lorries on opposite carriageways. The collisions occurred between the A522 at Uttoxeter and the A521 at Blythe Bridge Roundabout, cutting a vital east–west link between Stoke-on-Trent and Derby.
At the same time, traffic conditions have sharply deteriorated on the M6 in Cheshire, where three southbound lanes are closed following a crash between junction 18 (Middlewich) and junction 17 (Sandbach), bringing one of Britain’s busiest motorways close to a standstill.
National Highways said long queues are building and delays are spreading rapidly across the wider North West road network as emergency services and recovery crews work to clear the scene. The WP Times reports this, citing BBC Stoke & Staffordshire and official traffic updates from National Highways.
Rail passengers are also being affected. London Northwestern Railway has suspended all services between Crewe and Stafford because of overhead line problems, disrupting routes via Stoke-on-Trent and cutting a key rail link between the Midlands and North West England.
Roads blocked or barely passable
Police and highways teams say snow and ice have made several routes either impassable or only just passable.
Staffordshire
- A51 London Road (northbound) – impassable between New Road (Hixon) and A518 Stafford Road (Weston)
- A518 Weston Road – impassable in both directions from Boat Lane (Weston) to Blackheath Lane (Beaconside)
- A34 – just passable between A513 Beaconside (Marston Gate) and A51 (Aston Island, Stone)
- A34 Congleton Road – impassable from Talke Road (Talke Pits) to A5011 Linley Road (Talke traffic lights)
Cheshire
- A5020 University Way – just passable between A532 Weston Road (Crewe Hall) and A534 Crewe Green roundabout
- A530 Middlewich Road – just passable from Brynlow Drive (Middlewich) to Eardswick Lane (Bradfield Green)
Police warning as schools close
Cheshire Police is urging motorists to travel only if absolutely necessary, warning that ice and drifting snow continue to make conditions dangerous. Officers say they have been dealing with stranded vehicles and accidents through the night.
The weather has also forced school closures in Nantwich, where both Brine Leas High School and Malbank School are closed because staff and pupils cannot travel safely.
The A50, M6 and Crewe–Stafford rail line form part of one of the most important transport corridors linking the Midlands, North West and North Wales. With freight traffic, commuters and school transport all affected, the snow disruption is expected to ripple through the region well into the day.
Road operators and rail engineers are continuing to work on clearing snow, repairing damaged infrastructure and reopening routes, but with temperatures still low, further delays are likely across Staffordshire and Cheshire as winter conditions persist.
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