M6 near Carlisle reopens after lorry fire melts road surface
- Published
Repairs to the road surface took several hours, Highways North West said
The M6 northbound near Carlisle was shut for hours after a lorry fire melted the road surface.
Two HGVs collided between junction 44 for the city and 45 for Gretna at about 19:00 BST on Thursday.
Highways North West said the severity of the blaze meant the surface had to be repaired. The road has now reopened.
Traffic congestion saw tailbacks of seven miles (11.2km) on Friday, causing delays of at least 90 minutes above usual journey times, it added.
Motorists stuck in traffic reported "complete gridlock".
A series of diversions were set up for travellers.
Nobody is thought to have been seriously injured, Cumbria Police said.
Traffic caught in the northbound closure took four hours to clear
The southbound carriageway between the same junctions was also closed due to a second collision but all lanes have since reopened.
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