Furious drivers report there being 'madness' on the M60 late last night and through the early hours of this morning. Motorists say they were unnecessarily stuck on the motorway for hours, when part of it was closed for roadworks.
There were reports of minor collisions, cars on the hard shoulder blocking ambulances - and delays of up to five hours '- for 'some cones and no one working'. And, despite its 'smart motorway' status, drivers claim there were no warnings given about the road closure between J17 and J18 - with tailbacks to J15.
As a result, drivers say they weren't able to avoid the closure - and ended up stuck in frustratingly slow traffic for hours. Worse still, there were reports of cars driving on the hard shoulder and blocking ambulances.
READ MORE: 'Severe' M60 delays as drivers slam 'smart motorway shambles' - RECAP
The traffic management was slammed as being a "complete shambles" by one fuming motorist. On Twitter, Benjamin Dunford raged: "A complete shambles. At no point the so called 'smart motorway' indicated the closure. Many people could of used alternative routes."
On Facebook, Paul Owens wrote: "I Joined from the M61 at 10pm and arrived in Heywood four hours later. No warnings at all. Madness, cars driving on the hard shoulder and blocking ambulances."
On Facebook, Caroline Worthington wrote: "It's taken me over three hours to go from J15 to J17 where everyone is being forced off. There are cars breaking down everywhere and cars rolling backwards hitting the car behind them.
"Not sure if they are out of petrol or just falling asleep. I got on at the Trafford Centre and not one sign said there was an expected road closure.
"Judging by lots of ambulances going up the hard shoulder I'd guess this closure wasn't planned."
Kelly O'Brien said on Facebook: "No signs warning this is happening before you get on. Joke." And Jo Mo said: "Two hours hours stuck in it. Not one sign. Appalling!!! Highways England this is disgusting!!"
On Twitter, @carlychell wrote: "Left the Trafford centre at 10pm… we’ve been stuck on the m60 for 4.30 hours and there’s now people walking down the motorway." She later tweeted: "We’ve been sat here nearly five hours now for some cones and no one working."
On Facebook, Gareth Heenan said it took him four hours to travel from Worsley to Preswitch. "What a joke," he added.
Tracey Hartley tweeted: "My daughter has been stuck for over two hours now. Wouldn’t you think they would open it again now to clear the traffic and let these poor people get to where they are going? Absolutely disgusting situation."
Back on Facebook, Soo Rose Cook wrote: "Four hours to travel two miles. We were taking a friend home, travelling back in the other direction. Absolutely no work happening on the stretch which was closed - maybe because those who were travelling to start the road works were also stuck in the traffic..."
And Azhar Iqbal wrote: "Been stuck for more then two hours. Understandable if there was something serious or accident but that's not the case - it's just just one lane open, workers sat in the truck on their phones."
You can see how the events unfolded in our live blog here. Highways England has been approached for a comment.
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