National Highways Holds M56 Traffic After 4-Vehicle Crash Near Warrington

m56 traffic was held eastbound near Warrington on Monday evening after a four-vehicle crash between junction 10 for Stretton and junction 9 for Lymm and the M6. National Highways: North-West said the road was being held while emergency services headed to the scene.

The crash happened around 5.30pm and led to delays of more than 30 minutes, with four miles of queues reported on the approach. Cheshire Fire Service said the collision involved 4 vehicles, including a lorry, and the road was closed while crews dealt with 5 casualties.

National Highways J10 to J9

National Highways: North-West said: "Traffic is currently being held on the #M56 eastbound near #Warrington between J10 to J9 due to a multiple vehicle collision." The post was dated May 18, 2026, and it matched the scene described by emergency crews on the ground.

One person was cut out of a vehicle before being treated by the ambulance service. That detail shows the scale of the response on a motorway stretch that carries traffic through the Warrington area, where even a short closure quickly backed vehicles into long queues.

Cheshire Fire Service response

Cheshire Fire Service said the road stayed closed while paramedics and fire crews worked through the casualties. The closure left drivers facing a held eastbound carriageway, four miles of congestion, and delays stretching beyond 30 minutes.

For anyone heading through the M56 corridor that evening, the practical effect was immediate: traffic was stopped, the eastbound side was restricted, and the queue built fast behind the crash site. The incident’s impact sat less in the collision itself than in how quickly it spread across a busy motorway link near Warrington.