Leeds motorway updates: A1M and A64 closure causing 90-minute delays after Bramham Interchange crash
A serious crash overnight on the A1M near Leeds has resulted in a motorway closure and diversions for drivers.
Published 16th Jun 2023, 07:25 BST
Updated 16th Jun 2023, 10:06 BST
Police[1] have urged motorists to avoid the A64[2] and the A1M at junction 44 (Bramham) as parts of both roads remain closed following a crash at about 12.30am. National Highways[3] is reporting delays to journeys of around 90 minutes as the motorway remains shut in both directions, with traffic reported to be queuing for up to six miles.
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Drivers are being warned of a closure on the A1M at Bramham Interchange that also affects the A64. Picture: Google
Leeds motorway closure as A1M and A64 shut after serious crash near Tadcaster
Show new updates [4]Both carriageways on the A1M have fully reopened at Junction 44 (Bramham Interchange). Drivers are being advised that will take a few more hours for the residual delays to fully clear though.
North Yorkshire Police has issued a statement saying: "At about 12.30am today, Friday 16 June, a Volkswagen Golf travelling on the A64 near Bramham left the road and was involved in a collision with a lorry on the A1(M). A North Yorkshire Police vehicle was pursuing the car shortly before the collision.
The driver, the sole occupant of the car, suffered serious injuries, and was taken to hospital by ambulance.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has relevant dashcam or CCTV footage, is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference NYP-16062023-0012.
The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). It is mandatory for a police force to refer itself to the IOPC following serious injury involving police involvement."
National Highways has confirmed that the A1M southbound has now reopened, although lane three currently remains closed to complete the clear-up operation. Preparations are being made to reopen north.
Severe delays currently remain in both directions.
Closures remain in place as we head towards lunchtime, meaning the motorway has now been shut for almost 11 hours. It is an indication of just serious a crash this must have been.
At this stage, police have released no further details beyond confirming that road closures are in place on the A64 and the A1M at junction 44 (Bramham) after a collision at around 12.30am.
It’s not yet clear how long the investigation work at the crash scene will take to complete, but the National Highways travel alert gives an estimated time for the incident clearing as being between noon and 12.15pm.
Even once the motorway and A64 can be fully reopened to traffic, it is likely to take some time for traffic conditions to return to normal. In its latest update, the agency warned drivers of 90 minute delays to journeys.
National Highways said that severe delays are adding at least 90 minutes to normal journey times, with approximately six miles of congestion in both directions. It says that due to the serious nature of the incident, police collision investigation work is continuing and the road is expected to remain closed through the morning.
Northbound traffic is being diverted up and over the junction via the exit and entry slip roads. Southbound traffic is being filtered onto the eastbound A64 to turn at Headley Bar and return to re-join the A1(M) southbound.
A number of school services are reporting delays as a result of the road closures in place. They include the P5 Lady E Hastings Thorp Arch, P78 Thornton Primary School and G4 GarforthAcademy services.
Transdev has also advised that its Coastliner service will not be able to reach any stops between Bramham and Whinmoor.
As the road gets busier, the queues appear to be growing. The live map on the AA.com[5] shows the current picture, with the congestion on the southbound carriageway of the A1M stretching back almost as far as Wetherby.
National Highways is warning drivers that the A1M is closed in both directions at Juntion 44, with long delays on the approach. It estimates that the queues are adding at least 45 minutes to normal journey times. It has also confirmed that it expects the carriageway to remain closed throughout the morning.
The location of the road closures can be seen here on the Traffic England[6] website:
References
- ^ Police (www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk)
- ^ A64 (www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk)
- ^ National Highways (twitter.com)
- ^ Show new updates (www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk)
- ^ AA.com (www.theaa.com)
- ^ Traffic England (www.trafficengland.com)