🚨 Emergency? Call 999 · Motorway breakdown? 0300 123 5000
Search
LIVE
Loading incidents...

Start typing to search

Find traffic updates, service providers, tools & more

📢 Seen an incident on this road? Report it in 30 seconds Report ›

At a glance

🕐 Last verified 20 Feb, 14:35

Loading the map…
StatusCleared
Severity (NH)Severe
RoadM53
DirectionNorthbound
RegionNorth West
CountyCheshire West and Chester
Category (NH)Accident
ReportedFri 20 Feb, 13:07
Cleared14:35
Lasted1h 27m
Road typeMotorway
Speed limit70 mph (variable)
Weather🌧️ Moderate drizzle
ReferenceREF-6437057

Times are UK time.

What National Highways say

M53 northbound within J9 | Northbound | Accident

Location : The M53 northbound at junction J9 . Lane Closures : The hard shoulder and lane 1 are closed. Reason : Road traffic collision. Status : Currently Active. Time To Clear : The event is expected to clear between 15:45 and 16:00 on 20 February 2026. Return To Normal : Normal traffic conditions are expected between 15:45 and 16:00 on 20 February 2026. Lanes Closed : There is one of two lanes closed.

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

Were you on the M53?

Enter when you were travelling to see if this incident was active at the time.

📡

Live Incident Timeline

1 update captured · Cleared

PREMIUM
M53 ✓ CLEARED

📋 Your Premium Report includes 1 timestamped update:

✓ Full timestamped update timeline
✓ Green-highlighted changes each update
✓ All 1 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.

🚗 Were you caught in this incident?

Leave your email and we'll notify you when this incident is cleared and the full report is ready — useful for insurance or work.

We won't spam you. You'll get one email when this incident clears so you can grab the full report. This is an independent evidence report from official National Highways / TfL data — not a police report.

Recent M53 incidents

6 incidents and roadworks logged on the M53 in the last 30 days, 3 of them serious or severe. Times are UK time.

link road from M53 northbound J11 to M56 eastbound J15 | Eastbound | CongestionFri 5 Jun, 13:47 M53 northbound between J12 and J11 | Northbound | CongestionWed 3 Jun, 08:39 M53 southbound between J5 and J6 | Southbound | CongestionMon 1 Jun, 08:22 M53 northbound within J2 | Northbound | CongestionThu 28 May, 18:45 M53 southbound within J11 | Southbound | CongestionTue 19 May, 12:04 M53 J10 northbound access | Northbound | AuthorityOperationMon 11 May, 18:59
Every M53 incident

Common questions

Is the M53 closed?

Not because of this crash. It cleared at 14:35 UK time on Fri 20 Feb. See the M53 right now.

What happened on the M53 on 20 Feb 2026?

Crash on the M53 northbound at J9 in Cheshire West and Chester, reported at 13:07 UK time on Fri 20 Feb. Cleared at 14:35.

How long did it last?

1h 27m, from 13:07 UK time on Fri 20 Feb.

Where can I see everything else on the M53?

The M53 live page shows what is happening now, and the M53 archive has every incident on record.

Share

WhatsApp Facebook X Telegram

Get M53 alerts

Free email alerts when something happens on the M53.

Early Warning · 7 days free

Know before you set off

Early Warning sends crashes, closures and long delays on your roads straight to your phone, plus email and Telegram.

Start my 7-day free trial

7 days free, then from £2.99 a month. Renews monthly until you cancel. Cancel within the 7 days and you won’t be charged.

Seen something on the road?Tell us once you've stopped somewhere safe. It takes a few taps and helps everyone heading that way.Report it

UK Traffic Updates is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We sell incident data and evidence reports only. We do not refer you to a solicitor, and we do not pass your details to anyone.

© 2026 UK Traffic Updates. Powered by National Highways’ Transport Data Feeds.

📄 Get Report