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At a glance

🕐 Last verified 18 Oct, 05:48

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StatusCleared
Severity (NH)Severe
RoadM56
DirectionWestbound
RegionNorth West England
Category (NH)nhTravelAlert
ReportedSat 17 Oct, 23:29
ClearedSun 18 Oct, 05:48
Lasted6h 18m
Road typeMotorway
Speed limit70 mph (variable)
Weather🌤️ Mainly clear
ReferenceREF-26225935

Times are UK time.

What National Highways say

M56 - Collision

The M56 in Greater Manchester is now closed westbound between J1 (M60) and J5 Airport Interchange (Manchester Airport Terminals 1 & 2) and eastbound from J5 to J2 Sharston Interchange (Wythenshawe, Altrincham A560 (M60)) due to a collision which occurred circa 19:30 yesterday evening.


The official National Highways record of this incident, kept here after the road reopens.

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Live Incident Timeline

1 update captured · 4 affected segments · Cleared

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M56  · Westbound J1-J5 ✓ CLEARED
M56  · Eastbound J4 ✓ CLEARED
M56  · Westbound J1-J5 ✓ CLEARED
M56  · Westbound J3A-J3 ✓ CLEARED

📋 Your Premium Report includes 1 timestamped update:

✓ Full timestamped update timeline
✓ Green-highlighted changes each update
✓ All 4 affected segments tracked
✓ Expected clear time per segment
✓ Weather & road surface at incident
✓ Emergency services confirmed
✓ Insurance claim checklist
✓ 3 ready-to-use template letters

A police collision report costs £215+ and takes 6–8 months. This report is available within minutes.

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Recent M56 incidents

26 incidents and roadworks logged on the M56 in the last 30 days, 13 of them serious or severe. Times are UK time.

M56 | Cheshire | Carriageway Closure | Expect DelaysTue 8 Sep, 00:06 M56 | Cheshire | Carriageway Closure | Expect DelaysMon 31 Aug, 01:27 M56 | Cheshire | Carriageway Closure | Expect DelaysMon 17 Aug, 00:01 link road from M56 J9 eastbound to M6 J20 northbound | Northbound | CongestionMon 29 Jun, 17:15 M56 J2 eastbound access | Eastbound | CongestionMon 29 Jun, 16:48 M56 eastbound within J15 | Eastbound | CongestionSun 28 Jun, 15:54
Every M56 incident

Common questions

Is the M56 closed?

Not because of this crash. It cleared at 05:48 UK time on Sun 18 Oct. See the M56 right now.

What happened on the M56 on 17 Oct 2026?

Crash on the M56 westbound in the North West England, reported at 23:29 UK time on Sat 17 Oct. Cleared at 05:48 on Sun 18 Oct.

How long did it last?

6h 18m, from 23:29 UK time on Sat 17 Oct.

Where can I see everything else on the M56?

The M56 live page shows what is happening now, and the M56 archive has every incident on record.

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