Why the M60 took so long to reopen after crash

The multi-vehicle collision on the M60 happened on Monday

As all lanes have now reopened on the M60 after a seven-vehicle crash transport bosses have explained why part of the motorway was closed for more than 30 hours.

The road was shut in both directions between Junction 25 for the Bredbury Interchange and Junction 1 for the Pyramid Roundabout in Stockport after the pile up involving four lorries, two cars and a van from about 11:30 BST on Monday.

National Highways said it required "extensive and significant repairs" to the central reservation barrier and a bridge parapet and one lorry had shed its load of beer and there was a large diesel spillage requiring resurfacing to both carriageways.

It apologised for the disruption caused.

All lanes reopened shortly before 04:30 BST following the lengthy clean-up and repair operation after National Highways worked on getting the motorway open to traffic.

It said significant damage was caused in the collision requiring complex infrastructure repairs including replacing a large section of central reservation barrier and undertaking repairs to a damaged bridge parapet.

Both carriageways needed resurfacing after a large diesel spillage across all lanes of the motorway and hard shoulder in both directions.

It said lampposts damaged in the collision also needed to be isolated from the electricity supply and removed.

The crash caused "extensive and significant damage" to the motorway, said National Highways

All the vehicles involved had to be removed and the carriageway needed to be cleared of debris, it said.

National Highways said the collision involving four HGVS, two cars and a van saw two lorries cross the central reservation.

Two lanes of the M60 anticlockwise were opened shortly after 13:30 on Tuesday with lane three remaining closed for safety reasons as further repairs continued.

All three lanes of the M60 clockwise were then reopened at about 17:15.

Two lanes were closed overnight again in both directions between Junctions 1 and 25 from 21:30 for barrier repairs and from about 04:30 all lanes of the motorway were running again, National Highways said.

It apologised for the disruption caused and said it appreciated "everyone's patience while the repairs were carried out".