M56 chaos: 'Emergency' forces drivers to travel 5mph causing three hours of delays near Liverpool Airport

The delays have meant two lanes of the motorways were forced to close earlier this afternoon as emergency roadworks get underway.

The work currently taking place is to replace a displaced drainage cover and is expected to be completed by mid-afternoon.

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Drivers are currently facing heavy delays with 11 miles of congestion lasting between J16 to J12.

National Highways warned: “Road users intending on travelling on this section of motorway are urged to allow additional time for their journey and consider alternate routes, if possible, or delaying travelling until the works are complete and the delays have cleared.”

According to Traffic England, normal traffic conditions are expected to return this evening with drivers urged to avoid the route if possible.

But the roadworks have already caused chaos among drivers with one person stuck in the traffic calling it an “absolute farce”.

They shared on social media: “Same thing happened a couple of weeks ago where there were massive queues only to get to the front of the queue where one man was trying to fix a drain cover!! Should have been done properly in the first place!”

More shockingly someone else stated: "This is the third time in the past six months a massive hole has appeared in the motorway on this large bridge !!!"

Another driver stuck in the queues detailed how its "jammed going past on the over side".

National Highways stated that drivers should stay up-to-date with the latest travel information on the website and travel apps.

Another driver warned that there are tailbacks on M56 nearly all the way back to M53, with two lanes closed for less than 100 yards. "Couldn't see anything on the carriageway, traffic officer just sitting there," they shared.

Traffic England now estimates the delays to last until at least 9pm, adding: "Two lanes (of three) remain closed for emergency roadworks due to a failed drain cover."

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The post on X continued: "The works are expected to be completed by mid-afternoon. Currently causing two-hour delay from J16 with 11 miles of congestion."