The northbound carriageway was shut at junction 31 near Ribbleton after a collision involving three cars and two vans shortly before midday on Thursday, July 30. The closure led to severe delays, with traffic monitoring service Inrix at one point reporting queuing traffic and delays of more than an hour between Charnock Richard Services and junction 31. At 1.54pm, Inrix issued the following update: "Severe delays of 62 minutes and delays increasing on M6 Northbound between M6 (Charnock Richard Services) and J31 A59 Preston New Road (Samlesbury)." Long queues also formed on surrounding routes, including Preston New Road at Samlesbury, as traffic sought alternative routes around the closure. By 1.57pm, police confirmed the road had reopened, though long queues and residual delays continued for some time after.