A MAJOR motorway remains shut during rush hour after a “serious” crash and fire which saw an air ambulance deployed.
The crash has taken place on the westbound carriageway of the M62 in Manchester, at Junction 19 (Middleton Road) near Heywood.
The incident and closure were first reported at around 11.45pm on Sunday.
Emergency services including the air ambulance have been at the scene and the road was closed between Junction 20 and Junction 19 for several hours.
The busy motorway is used by around 140,000 motorists every day.
The M62 has since reopened between Junction 20 and Junction 19 shortly after 3.30am.
However the closure within junction 19 westbound remains in place while police continue to investigate.
Contractors are now standing by for the clean up and repair operation.
This will likely “extend into the morning peak”, said National Highways.
At 5.30am, National Highways said: “The #M62 remains closed westbound between the exit and entry slips of J19 #Heywood in #GreaterManchester.
“@NWmwaypolice have nearly completed recovery and contractors are standing by for the clean up and repair operation that will likely extend into the morning peak.”
Traffic is now building up on the M62 westbound near Rochdale, approaching the closure at junction 19.
Vehicles are having to leave the motorway at junction 19 before rejoining the carriageway on the entry slip road.
Large queues are now also tailing back past junction 21 at Milnrow on the M62 westbound.
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