A motorway has re-opened following resurfacing works after a crash caused an oil spillage.
The M61 from junction four to junction three, from Westhoughton to Kearsley, closed overnight to allow for the repairs to take place.
National Highways announced an hour ago the carriageway had reopened.
Emergency services were forced to shut two lanes on the M61 southbound at around 6pm yesterday between junction four A6 Watergate Lane, Farnworth, to junction three Kearsley Spur, due to a ‘substantial hydraulic fluid spillage’.
Rush hour commuters yesterday (January 13) were hit with delays lasting an hour on the stretch with just lane three open.
Read more: M61 to close from J3 to J4 southbound overnight for repairs
There was queuing traffic throughout the day as a result of the closures.
It is understood that the incident involved a single vehicle, which shed a concrete pipes.
According to INRIX, the highways information site, a crane that was arranged to help clear the shed load leaked oil across the carriageway, which forced the closure of the motorway lanes.
A National Highways spokesperson said the carriageway was completely closed from 9pm between junction four and three for resurfacing.
The damage covered bout 250m and is across the hard shoulder, lane one and lane two.
A spokesman said: “It’s impossible to resurface lanes unless the adjacent lane is also closed, due to the size of the machinery.”