Motorway closures in England rose by 18% in 2024, according to data released by Co-op Insurance.
The most closed section of motorway last year was the A1M northbound, at Chester-le-Street junction 63, which was closed 127 times throughout the year.
The M53 northbound at junction 8 had the second most closures, with 99 closures throughout the year.
Next was the M6 northbound at junction 21 and 21a (72 closures), the M621 southbound at junction 7 (56 closures), and the M621 eastbound, at junction 7 with the M1 (55 closures).
Four out of the top ten most closed motorways were in Yorkshire, with the M621 in Leeds appearing on the list three times.
The M25 came eighth, with 50 closures on the anti-clockwise carriageway between junction 28 and 27.
A total of 6,874 motorway closures were recorded across England last year.
Paul Evans, head of motor at Co-op Insurance, said: “From commuting to leisure trips and visiting loved ones, our motorway network is a vital part of so many people’s daily journeys.
“However, our findings suggest that getting from A to B via the motorway can sometimes be less than straightforward, with road closures seemingly on the rise and particularly common on certain stretches of motorway.
“We’re therefore urging drivers to plan their journeys carefully before they set off so that they can be prepared for any road closures, avoid rushed or panicked decisions and safely navigate diversions.”
Total closures, with both carriageways closed, rose by 14% in England throughout 2024, with 283 total closures.
So far in 2025, the M6 has topped the list, with the northbound section between junction 6 and 7 already being closed 29 times by mid-May.
The A1M has had the second most closures this year, although at a different point to last year, with the worst affected section being between junction 37 and 38, on the northbound carriageway (24 closures).
The data was obtained by Co-op insurance, through a Freedom of Information request to National Highways.
