Diversion routes issued as M1 crash between Leicester and Loughborough leads to ‘protracted closure’

Diversion routes issued as M1 crash between Leicester and Loughborough leads to 'protracted closure' | Leicestershire LiveSkip to main content[1]

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The motorway is shut in both directions after a car came off a bridge and hit a van

16:01, 10 Apr 2026Updated 17:31, 10 Apr 2026

The M1 is currently completely closed in both directions between Leicester and Lutterworth

The M1 motorway from Leicester to Loughborough is completely closed after a serious crash and is expected to stay shut for a while.

The incident involved a car crashing on a road that passes over the M1[2]. It fell onto the southbound lanes, colliding with a van on the motorway.

The closure, which started at about 1.30pm today (Friday, April 10) is likely to remain in place for some time. National Highways said there are fuel spills on the carriageway.

Fuel can dissolve materials in the road surface, meaning a lengthy repair job.

And Leicestershire Police[3] will also be carrying out a full investigation at the scene.

Below are the details of the diversions that have been put in place by National Highways this afternoon:

Southbound diverted traffic:

• Exit the M1 southbound at Junction 21 and take the third exit onto the M69.
• Continue on the M69 to M69 junction 1 - the A5 Interchange.
• At junction 1, exit the motorway and take the first exit onto the A5 southbound.
• Continue along the A5 southbound to the A5/A4303 Cross in Hand Roundabout.
• At the roundabout take the first exit 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 and continue eastbound along the A4303 to M1 Junction 20. Then rejoin the M1 southbound.

Northbound diverted traffic:

• Exit the M1 northbound at Junction 20 and take the first exist 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 Watling Street for approximately 10.3kms to the A5/M69 Junction 1 Interchange.
• At the Interchange take the fifth exit onto the M69 northbound.
• Continue along the M69 northbound for approximately 14.5kms to M69 Junction 2/M1 Junction 20 and rejoin the M1 Northbound

For more information on this incident, see our live blog by clicking here[4].

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References

1. ^ Skip to main content (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
2. ^ involved a car crashing on a road that passes over the M1 (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
3. ^ Leicestershire Police (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
4. ^ see our live blog by clicking here (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
5. ^ Reach and across our entities (www.reachplc.com)
6. ^ cookies (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
7. ^ Privacy Notice (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
8. ^ Terms and Conditions (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)