A morning of travel chaos unfolded on the M6 motorway near Birmingham after a refuse vehicle shed part of its load, creating significant disruption for Monday commuters.
The incident occurred on the southbound carriageway between junction 5 for Castle Bromwich and junction 4a for the M42, with emergency services rushing to the scene around 8:15 AM. National Highways confirmed the spillage involved waste material from a bin lorry, though the exact nature of the debris wasn't specified.
Major Traffic Disruption
Motorists faced lengthy delays as two lanes were forced to close while recovery operations took place. Traffic cameras showed queues building rapidly during the morning rush hour, with congestion stretching back several miles at its peak.
Drivers were advised to allow extra time for their journeys or consider alternative routes as emergency crews worked to clear the hazardous debris from the carriageway.
Recovery Operation Underway
A spokesperson for National Highways - West Midlands stated: "We have resources on scene dealing with a spillage on the M6 southbound between J5 and J4a. Two lanes are currently closed while we work to make the area safe and clear the carriageway."
The clean-up operation required specialist equipment to remove the scattered waste material safely from the busy motorway. Recovery vehicles were spotted at the scene as highway teams worked to minimise the disruption to travellers.
Ongoing Travel Advice
While the situation was expected to improve throughout the morning, residual delays affected the region's road network. Commuters were urged to check live traffic updates before travelling through the area.
This incident marks another challenging morning for West Midlands motorists, highlighting the vulnerability of key transport routes to unexpected disruptions during peak travel times.
