A significant fire involving a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) has caused traffic to be halted on the M62 motorway during the busy morning rush hour. The incident, which took place on February 10, saw the vehicle ablaze, leading to extensive queues as motorists were forced to stop. The affected section of the M62 is located between junction 18 M60 and junction 19 Heywood, and it has resulted in delays exceeding 30 minutes initially.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue services responded to the fire and were actively involved in managing the situation on the scene. As traffic was brought to a standstill, emergency services worked diligently to extinguish the flames and ensure the safety of all involved. As of the latest updates, lanes 1 and 2 of the four-lane motorway remain closed while the fire is dealt with, leading to heightened congestion and extended waiting times for commuters trying to navigate this critical route.

Traffic reports from National Highways indicated that once the fire was under control, traffic was beginning to flow again, but significant delays of at least 45 minutes were still being reported as vehicles resumed their journeys. This incident underscores the impact of road safety issues and emergency situations on daily commuting patterns, particularly during peak travel times, and emphasizes the importance of quick response from emergency services to mitigate disruption and potential hazards.