Signing off
All lanes of the M56 in Cheshire have now been reopened and while there is still a lot of congestion, traffic is slowly returning to normal. Thank you for following our live updates this afternoon. A full report on the incident will appear shortly on our website.
Police statement
Cheshire Constabulary have just released the following statement regarding what caused this afternoon’s M56 incident:
“At 2.40pm police received a call regarding concerns for the welfare of a man on a bridge over the M56 in Cheshire.
“The road was closed between junctions 12 and 14 in both directions whilst negotiators were called to the scene.
“At 4.45pm the man came down from the bridge and he is currently being checked over.
“The road has now reopened in both directions but there is still congestion in the area as traffic gets moving again. Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible.
“We would like to thank drivers for their patience.”Carmella
Return to vehicles
Police have been asking all motorists to return to their vehicles as the M56 incident reaches a conclusion.
Still heavy queues
This is how it was looking a few moments ago. Red is bad.
Still queuing
Although the incident has been resolved, it may take some time for this congestion to clear.
Congestion chaos
The Chronicle’s executive editor Michael Green was passing close to the M56 earlier and captured these pictures of the congestion. He’s back in the office now!
Statement soon
Carmella De Lucia has just spoken to Cheshire Police, who say a statement is on its way relating to this afternoon’s incident. We don’t know the nature of the incident, although there has been widespread speculation on social media that somebody had been threatening to jump off a bridge over the motorway. These reports are completely unconfirmed at this stage.
It's backing up
As ever with such an incident, there is a major knock-on effect. We’re hearing reports that traffic is gridlocked along the A5117 at Dunkirk, close to Ellesmere Port.
Going nowhere fast
There are plenty of pictures doing the rounds on social media, with motorists leaving their cars to soak up the sun.
Nightmare stretch
To be clear, the incident is between J14 A5117 (Hapsford) and J12 A557 (Runcorn). The travel site Inrix reports that the congestion is backing up to ‘M56 to J15 M53 and on M56 to J11 A56 (Preston Brook).
'Isolated incident'
Our reporter Carmella De Lucia has spoken to Cheshire Police who have issued us with the following statement: “Police are currently dealing with an incident on the M56 in Cheshire which is currently closed in both directions at junctions 12-14.
“Drivers are advised to avoid the area at this time. This is an isolated incident.”
Gridlock
What a day to be stuck in your car. Hundreds of vehicles appear to be caught up in this.
Closed in both directions
The closure of the M56 in both directions at junctions 12-14 is causing huge tailbacks this afternoon (Monday, June 6).
Hundreds of people are stuck in traffic after police shut the motorway near Hapsford and Runcorn due to an ‘incident’.
This is unrelated to an RTC on the M56 earlier on today.
Traffic between Chester and Manchester is affected, according to travel website Inrix, and queues are worse heading eastbound towards Manchester.
Rolling road blocks are in place while police deal with the incident. Drivers are advised to avoid the M56 completely in the meantime.
