M1 stopped traffic J20–J21 northbound

Cleared Cleared at 16:25 on 1 Oct 2026, after 168 h 25 min.

Stopped traffic on the M1 northbound at J20–J21 on Thursday 24 September 2026, from 16:00. Cleared at 16:25 after 168 h 25 min. Timeline of reports from TomTom and the motorway signs.

1. ▲

   M1 northbound · J20–J21

   Obstruction or hazard

   Thu 16:00–Thu 16:25 (cleared after 168 h 25 min) · delay ~5 min · queue 3.7 mi

   TomTom ×2 · Motorway signs

At its worst: stationary traffic · delay ~23 min

See the M1 on the live map M1 traffic now

Timeline

1. Thu 16:00 TomTom: queueing traffic, “Slow traffic”, delay ~4 min
2. Thu 16:04 TomTom: “Queuing traffic”
3. Thu 16:05 Motorway signs: “REPORT OF DEBRIS”
4. Thu 16:21 TomTom: delay now ~17 min (was ~11), “Stationary traffic”
5. Thu 16:30 TomTom: delay now ~23 min (was ~17)
6. Thu 16:34 TomTom: queueing traffic, “Slow traffic”, delay ~3 min
7. Thu 17:06 Motorway signs no longer show “REPORT OF DEBRIS”
8. Thu 17:48 TomTom: “Queuing traffic”
9. Thu 17:57 TomTom: “Slow traffic”
10. Thu 18:01 TomTom no longer reports it
11. Thu 18:01 All clear: no source reports it any more
12. Thu 15:54 Motorway signs: “REPORT OF DEBRIS” (reported again)
13. Thu 16:25 Motorway signs no longer show “REPORT OF DEBRIS”
14. Thu 16:25 All clear: no source reports it any more

What the sources said

• Slow traffic
• Overhead signs read “REPORT OF DEBRIS” (12 signs; furthest along: M1 northbound between J20 and J21).

Other recent incidents on the M1

• M1 crash J20 northbound · 14:49, still reported
• M1 crash J24 southbound · 12:56, cleared after 39 min
• M1 crash J21A–J21 · 10:48, cleared after 2 h 1 min
• M1 delays J9–J10 · 06:13, cleared after 3 h 3 min
• M1 crash J9–J10 · yesterday 21:47, cleared after 1 h 33 min
• M1 crash J33–J34 northbound · yesterday 17:38, cleared after 1 h 52 min
• M1 crash J21A–J22 · yesterday 16:34, cleared after 2 h 4 min
• M1 closed J33–J32 southbound · yesterday 16:27, cleared after 2 h 12 min
• M1 crash J8–J9 northbound · yesterday 16:25, cleared after 6 h 35 min
• M1 closed J31 northbound · yesterday 15:57, cleared after 2 h 13 min

About this page

This page shows what the data sources reported about this event and when, merged from every source that reported it at the same place. It doesn't say what caused it or whether anyone was hurt: no source reports that. Times are UK time. For live alerts, follow @motorways.me on Bluesky.