What Happened
All eastbound traffic on the M62 motorway stopped Tuesday evening between Junction 7 at Rainhill and Junction 8 at Burtonwood, according to the St Helens Star. The report was filed Tuesday, August 25, 2026. No official agency had confirmed the cause of the stoppage at the time of publication.
Drivers queued in the eastbound lanes between the two junctions reported seeing smoke near Burtonwood, the St Helens Star reported. No fire service, police, or highways agency statement had been issued confirming the smoke’s source, the nature of any incident, or whether any vehicles or structures were involved.
Eastbound delays reached 27 minutes, with the St Helens Star noting delays were still increasing. The westbound carriageway also slowed as drivers passing the scene rubbernecked toward the stopped traffic on the opposite side.
Location & Road Context
The M62 is a major trans-Pennine motorway in northern England. The stretch between Junction 7 at Rainhill and Junction 8 at Burtonwood runs through the St Helens borough of Merseyside. Junction 8 at Burtonwood connects to the A574, a primary route serving the Warrington area.
Broader Impact
With eastbound traffic fully held and delays climbing past 27 minutes, secondary congestion on local routes parallel to the M62 between Rainhill and Burtonwood was likely as drivers sought alternate paths. No diversion route had been officially announced as of the St Helens Star’s report.