Drivers are experiencing significant delays on the northbound lanes of the M1 this morning due to a collision in Leicestershire, leading to the closure of the carriageway between Junction 20 and Junction 21. The incident, deemed serious, has caused disruptions to traffic in the Lutterworth to Leicester area.
Emergency services are on-site addressing the situation, with both northbound lanes closed, and an air ambulance has been dispatched. National Highways has provided a diversion route for affected motorists, advising them to follow the Hollow Square diversion symbol between Junction 20 and Junction 21.
The diversion directs traffic off the M1 at Junction 20 onto the A4303 westbound, passing through roundabouts until reaching the A5/A4303 Cross in Hand roundabout. Drivers are then guided north on the A5 Watling Street for approximately 6.4 miles, leading to the A5/M69 Junction 1 interchange, before joining the M69 northbound for about 9 miles and re-entering the M1 northbound at Junction 21.
National Highways caution that the diversion will add significant time to journeys, suggesting affected individuals consider alternative routes or delaying travel if possible. The crash occurred shortly after 8 am, with all emergency services, including the Air Ambulance, and National Highways Traffic Officers present at the scene for traffic management.
National Highways has confirmed the release of all traffic within the closure. The closure between Junction 20 (Lutterworth) and Junction 21 (Leicester) is ongoing as emergency services work on-site, with a recommendation for drivers to plan their journeys in advance and allocate extra travel time.
Queues have been reported in the area, with current delays averaging around 20 minutes. Motorists are advised to factor in additional time for their travels, as the road is not expected to fully reopen until between 12:30 pm and 12:45 pm. Traffic was halted briefly before 9:30 am to implement the closure, with emergency services maintaining their presence.
No further details have been disclosed regarding the crash specifics, the number of vehicles involved, or any injuries sustained.