Drivers faced nightmarish rush hour conditions this morning as a serious multi-vehicle collision brought the M1 to a grinding halt, creating massive tailbacks stretching for miles.
Chaos Between Mansfield and Chesterfield
The incident occurred on the southbound carriageway between Junction 28 for Mansfield and Junction 29 for Chesterfield, with emergency services rushing to the scene around 8:30 AM. The collision involved multiple vehicles and required significant emergency response resources.
"We're dealing with a multi-vehicle collision on the M1 southbound between J28 and J29," confirmed a Nottinghamshire Police spokesperson. "Motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek alternative routes where possible."
Travel Time Doubles as Queues Build
Commuters experienced travel times of up to 90 minutes for journeys that would normally take just 45 minutes. The congestion stretched back past Junction 30 for Barlborough, with stationary traffic causing frustration for thousands of morning travellers.
National Highways issued an alert warning drivers of severe delays, stating: "There are approximately 5 miles of congestion on approach to the incident, causing delays of 90 minutes above usual travel time."
Emergency Response in Action
The coordinated emergency response included:
- Multiple ambulance crews assessing and treating casualties
- Nottinghamshire Police managing the scene and traffic diversion
- National Highways implementing rolling road blocks for safety
- Recovery vehicles standing by to clear the damaged vehicles
While the exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed, early reports suggest several people required medical attention at the scene.
Alternative Routes and Recovery Time
Motorists were advised to consider alternative routes including the A61 through Clay Cross or the A38 through Derby, though these routes also experienced increased congestion as drivers sought to avoid the M1 chaos.
Recovery operations continued throughout the morning with traffic gradually returning to normal by midday, though residual delays affected the area for several hours after the incident was cleared.
