A1M in West Yorkshire partially reopens after hazardous tanker crash

The A1M in West Yorkshire will remain closed southbound for a second night as a clean-up continues after a tanker carrying a hazardous load crashed into the central reservation.

Two lanes of the northbound carriageway between junctions 40 and 42 have reopened. The southbound stretch between junctions 42 and 41 remains closed as clean-up work continues overnight.

National Highways said it hopes the motorway will reopen in full by 6am on Friday, 3 February.

National Highways said "complex recovery and specialist clean-up work" was still taking place following the incident at 7.40am on Wednesday.

A spokesperson said: "A specialist team is now working to clean up the site, and an environmental specialist is due to assess the scene this afternoon. Emergency barrier repairs and resurfacing work will be carried out when all the material has been removed."

They added: "Due to the complexity of the job, the road will remain closed through today’s peak travel period and into the night. National Highways aims to reopen lanes in both directions by 6am tomorrow."

The motorway was closed in both directions after the tanker overturned, spilling its load.

The driver was taken to hospital and a 200m cordon was put in place. Motorists stuck in queues were told to keep windows closed as a precaution.

Southbound traffic is being directed from the A1(M) onto the M1 before continuing to travel southbound on the M1.

Road users could exit the M1 at junction 42 for Lofthouse, onto the M62 eastbound, and continue eastbound along the M62 before rejoining the A1M.

North Yorkshire Police has appealed for witnesses to Wednesday's incident.

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