M1 chaos: Drivers face miles of traffic and hour-long delays as overturned lorry blocks motorway

Drivers are facing delays of more than an hour this morning on a major motorway after a serious accident, and an overturned lorry blocked the carriageway.

The M1 in Northamptonshire is closed northbound between J16 (for Northampton) and J18 (for Rugby) following the accident, which involved two lorries.

Although the incident occurred shortly after 10om last night (August 4), long delays remain on the motorway.

All emergency services, including Northamptonshire Police, have attended the scene to deal with the accident and traffic response.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

National Highways confirmed that full collision investigation works were now complete, and recovery teams are at the scene.

It warned that the closure is likely to remain in place until later today as a result of the "complex recovery work and possible emergency resurfacing work".

Traffic officers from National Highways are working with contractors to assist with emergency congestion management.

Updating drivers on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, the transport organisation added that lanes three and four of the southbound carriageway are also closed.

It warned that there are around five miles of congestion on the approach to the accident, in addition to 76 minutes of delays.

National Highways stated: "If this closure impacts on your planned route, please allow extra journey time. Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey."

GB News has contacted Northamptonshire Police for a comment on the situation.

Motorists caught in the delays on the M1 are encouraged to follow the signposted diversion route outlined by National Highways.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Driving licence plans gain support as foreign nationals who failed tests remain on UK roads
• China mandates 'deactivation override' for self-driving cars as the UK's MoD rejects Chinese vehicles
• M25 motorway update to impact millions of drivers near Heathrow and Gatwick airports

Diverted traffic is advised to follow the hollow triangle diversion symbol:

• Exit the M1 northbound at J16 and take the 1st exit at the roundabout onto the A45
• Continue straight over the first roundabout and then continue on the A45 until the roundabout with the A5 near Flore
• Turn right at the roundabout and join the A5 northbound and continue towards Kilsby until the roundabout with the A428 Halfway House Roundabout
• At the roundabout, turn right onto the A428 and continue over the Railport Approach roundabout until the A5/A428 Parklands Roundabout
• At the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the A5 and continue eastbound to then re-join the M1 northbound at J18 (Crick Interchange)

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter