The Newshound

M6 reopens after a van fire and 'significant' diesel spill shut the southbound carriageway near Birmingham's Spaghetti Junction for hours

The M6 interchange at Gravelly Hill in Birmingham, where drivers caught inside the closure were released via lane four before the partial reopening.
The M6 interchange at Gravelly Hill in Birmingham, where drivers caught inside the closure were released via lane four before the partial reopening.

All three southbound lanes between Junctions 5 and 6 were shut from 4pm on Saturday after a van caught fire near Spaghetti Junction, spilling diesel across the road surface. National Highways was called at 15:35 GMT and emergency services worked with contractors to treat the carriageway. Two lanes reopened at 18:30 before the route cleared fully at 19:30.

Only one vehicle was involved and no injuries were reported throughout the incident.

At the peak of disruption, queues stretched to an hour, with drivers diverted via the A5127, B4137 and A47 back to Junction 5.

National Highways released trapped traffic through lane four before partial reopening eased the worst of the tailbacks.

MoreBBC News - EnglandM6 motorway shut in Birmingham after van fire and diesel spillThe SunMajor motorway shut after van fire & fuel spillage as drivers face huge delaysExpress & StarM6 closed southbound in West Midlands after van fire and 'significant' diesel spillageYahoo News CanadaM6 motorway shut after van fire and diesel spillManchester Evening NewsM6 closed near Birmingham due to vehicle fire with long traffic delays reported - Manchester Evening News
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