Long delays on the M1 as two lanes shut
Commuters were forced to endure long delays on a stretch of the M1 motorway in Northamptonshire this morning following a crash which closed two lanes.
Drivers faced delays of up to two and a half hours as a result of the crash, which saw a lorry overturn near Watford Gap services and subsequently closed two lanes southbound between junctions 18 and 16.
A large amount of diesel spilt onto the carriageway as a result of the collision and traffic queued back up to junction 19.
A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: "Lane one of the M1 is likely to remain closed for the remainder of the day as the Highways Agency continue to clear and repair the carriage following a collision in the early hours of this morning.
"At around 3.10am this morning a lorry overturned, spilling a large amount of diesel onto the carriageway and damaging a large section of the crash barrier.
"Following the removal of the contents of the lorry, the lorry is now in the process of being removed from the carriageway.
"Once this is done the repairs will take place to the crash barrier and the diesel cleared from the road to make it safe for lane one to be re-opened.
"Two lanes of the carriageway are open and will remain open while the repairs take place.
"Tailbacks are starting to clear, however, motorists are still advised to avoid the area if possible as delays are likely while the repairs take place.
"No one was seriously injured in the collision that took place on the southbound carriageway between junctions 17 and 16, just past Watford Gap Service Station."
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Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
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