An incident involving a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) veering off the roadway has led to significant traffic disruptions on a busy stretch of motorway. The disruption occurred on the M1 southbound at junction 35 on the A629 Cowley Hill in Rotherham, prompting a temporary halt in traffic flow this morning.
Traffic monitoring system Inrix confirmed the accident, resulting in the closure of all lanes on the M1. The entry slip road at junction 35 was also shut down as emergency crews responded to the HGV crash scene. Motorists were advised to steer clear of the area to allow for the necessary operations to take place.
According to reports, the clearance of the crash site is anticipated to extend past midnight. The closure of the entry slip at junction 35 is projected to be resolved between 9:15 PM and 9:30 PM as per National Highways.
UPDATE: National Highways has announced that all lanes on the M1 southbound have been reopened, with regular traffic flow expected to resume between 3:00 PM and 3:15 PM. However, the entry slip at J35 remains closed, with an estimated clearance time set between 7:45 PM and 8:00 PM.
Traffic England has indicated that the entry slip road incident and the lane closure on the M1 southbound are likely to be resolved between 6:30 PM and 6:45 PM. National Highways has revised the expected clearance time for the main incident to be between 4:30 PM and 4:45 PM, resulting in ongoing delays of approximately 30 minutes compared to usual traffic patterns.
Despite ongoing delays and lane closures, the situation is gradually improving, with three out of four lanes now open, leading to minimal congestion. South Yorkshire Police have advised motorists to avoid the affected area on the M1 southbound near junction 35, where the HGV incident occurred earlier today.