Freedom of Information data obtained by Co-op Insurance from National Highways reveals that motorway road closures rose by 18% in 2024.
The group’s findings highlight that the number of motorway road closures recorded by National Highways in England increased to more than 6870 last year, with incidents of total closures of both carriageways rising by 14% to just over 280.
When it came to the roads worst affected by closures, the data shows that junction 63 of the A1M at Chester-Le-Street was closed the most, last year. Indeed, this northbound stretch faced closure on 127 occasions. This was followed by the M53 at junction eight northbound in Ellesmere Port and the M6 between junctions 21 and 21a in Warrington.
Notably, four out of the top 10 junction locations with the highest number of road closures last year were in Yorkshire, with three on the M621 in Leeds. Elsewhere, three of the top 10 were in Cheshire, with two on the M53.
Meanwhile, so far this year, the M6 between junctions 6 and 7 between Spaghetti Junction and Great Barr in the West Midlands has been closed more than any other stretch of motorway, ahead of junctions 37 to 38, on the A1M near Doncaster and the M1 between junctions 23a and 24 near East Midlands Airport.
“From commuting to leisure trips and visiting loved ones, our motorway network is a vital part of so many people’s daily journeys. However, our findings suggest that getting from A to B via the motorway can sometimes be less than straightforward, with road closures seemingly on the rise and particularly common on certain stretches of motorway,” said Paul Evans (Head of Motor at Co-op Insurance).
“We’re therefore urging drivers to plan their journeys carefully before they set off so that they can be prepared for any road closures, avoid rushed or panicked decisions and safely navigate diversions.”
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