Reports of a man being 'knocked out' in the middle of the M56 on Sunday (March 20) brought the motorway to a standstill.
Traffic on both sides of the carriageway was stopped as police responded to an incident near the junction for Wythenshawe.
One motorist said a man had been ‘knocked out’ in the central reservation, while others said a fight had unfolded on the road.
Footage on Twitter appeared to show a man being escorted from the central reservation towards a police car by officers.
It is thought the incident started on the hard shoulder with a man then running through cars, stopping unsuspecting drivers in their tracks.
North West Motorway Police confirmed a man had been held after 'fighting', with alcohol an apparent factor.
Traffic England said the westbound carriageway was blocked due to ‘an obstruction caused by people in the road’.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said police were alerted to the incident at 1.49pm.
He said: "Police attended after reports of a male lying on the hard shoulder just before junction 5.
"There were further reports that he was in the carriageway and appeared drunk.
"He was then arrested by police and taken to hospital due to intoxication."
Motorists took to Twitter to comment on the delays.
Andrew Yee wrote: “People started getting out of cars. D’oh! M56.”
While @DanielJFalconer wrote: “I can’t believe people got out of their cars to fight on the M56. Get a grip on your lives you absolute dingbats.”
And @EmBombIbiza added: “Driving home from the south... The M6 is closed & now people are fighting on the M56?! Way to advertise the North!”
