Is the M1 still closed today? Latest traffic news with new motorway closure after accident and fire

Two lanes of the M1 in Derbyshire remain closed on Wednesday morning after an oil tanker burst into flames on Tuesday.

An additional section of the motorway in Leicestershire has been shut in both directions due to a serious crash.

National Highways said diversion routes were in operation, with the stretch of road expected to reopen later this morning.

Where is the M1 closed?

Emergency services were called to the southbound carriageway between junctions 29 and 28, near Tibshelf services, at around 10.35am on Tuesday to respond to a lorry fire, shutting this section of the motorway in both directions.

The northbound side reopened at 6.40pm on Tuesday, and two of the four southbound lanes reopened on Wednesday morning.

Emergency resurfacing work is being carried out on the other two lanes, which are expected to reopen later this morning.

A spokesperson for the East Midlands division of National Highways said: “Restrictions are expected to remain in place until mid morning, thank you for your patience.”

The motorway has also been closed in both directions between junction 20 and 21 due to a serious crash, leading to major queues, with delays of 50 minutes on approach to the affected area.

National Highways is advising peopletravelling northbound are advised to follow the Hollow Square diversion symbol on road signs:

• Exit the M1 northbound at J20 and take the first exist (west) onto the A4303.
• Continue along the A4303 to the A4303/A426 Lutterworth Road/Rugby Road roundabout and then take the second exit from the roundabout.
• Continue westbound along the A4303 passing through a further two roundabout at Coventry Road and Magna Park to A5/A4303 Cross in Hand roundabout. Then take the fourth exit from the roundabout and proceed north along the A5.
• Continue northbound along the A5 Waitling Street for approximately 10.3km to the A5/M69 J1 interchange.
• At the interchange take the fifth exit onto the M69 northbound. Continue along the M69 northbound for approximately 14.5km to M69 J2/M1 J21 and re-join the M1 northbound at J21. 

Those travelling southbound are also advised to follow the Hollow Square diversion symbol on road signs:

• Exit the M1 southbound at J21 and take the third exit (south/west) onto the M69.
• Continue south/westbound on the M69 for approximately 14.5km to M69 J1/A5 interchange.
• At M69 J1 exit the motorway and take the first exit (left) onto the A5 southbound.
• Continue along the A5 southbound for approximately 10.3km to the A5/A4303 Cross in Hand Roundabout.
• At the roundabout take the first exit (left) onto the A4303 eastbound. Continue eastbound along the
  A4303 passing through the roundabouts at Magna Park and Coventry Road to the A5/A426
  Lutterworth Road/Rugby Road roundabout.
• At the roundabout take the second exit (straight ahead) and continue eastbound along the A4303 to M1 J20.
• Re-join the M1 southbound at J20. 

Follow the M1 live traffic Twitter account for regular CCTV updates of current congestion.

Bank holiday travel advice

The M1 closures come ahead of what is expected to be a busy bank holiday weekend for the motorway.

A survey commissioned by the RAC suggested that around 14.4 million leisure trips by car are planned for between Friday and Monday, which is the last bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland until Christmas Day.

Transport analysis company Inrix said the most congested motorway stretches on Friday are likely to include the M1 northbound between junctions 12 and 16, the M25 clockwise between junctions four and one, and the M4 eastbound from junctions 29 to 24.

Pressure on the roads will be increased further on Saturday when train services will be disrupted, due to thousands of members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at 14 train operators striking in the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.

Inrix advised drivers to avoid major roads between 10am and 7pm on Friday, between 10am and 3pm on Saturday and Sunday, and between 10am and 4pm on Monday.