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Motorists traversing Tameside face significant travel disruption following the closure of the M67 motorway between Junction 3 at Hyde and Junction 4 at Hattersley. Forensic officers and specialized detectives initiated a scene examination late on Monday evening after road maintenance crews working near an overbridge uncovered suspected human remains shortly after 11:00 PM.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police told journalists: "Officers were called shortly after 11pm on Monday, August 3, 2026, by road workers who made the discovery close to a bridge between junctions three and four. Detectives believe they have identified suspected human remains and we are working with specialist teams to understand the circumstances behind this incident. The road will be closed between junctions three and four while detectives carry out their investigation."
Expected Timeline to Return to Normal Traffic
Traffic management operations were immediately deployed to isolate both directions of the motorway overnight. National Highways confirmed that the westbound carriageway was safely reopened to commuters at approximately 9:00 AM. However, the eastbound carriageway is anticipated to remain cordoned off for the majority of the day, with normal traffic flow unlikely to fully restore until late evening.
As reports provided directly to Daily Dazzling Dawn highlight, investigators are prioritizing meticulous evidence collection, which necessitates maintaining an extended forensic perimeter across the highway infrastructure.
Diversion Routes and Traffic Management
National Highways told journalists: "The M67 in Greater Manchester is closed eastbound between Junction 3 and Junction 4 due to a Greater Manchester Police led incident. Police continue to carry out detailed investigations at the scene to establish the circumstances. National Highways supports this work by maintaining traffic management, and there is currently no estimated time for reopening of the eastbound carriageway. If this closure impacts on your planned route, please allow extra journey time, plan ahead, or consider re-routing."
Commuters heading toward Motram in Longdendale and the Woodhead Pass are currently being rerouted along the A57 Mottram Road. High traffic density along local secondary routes is causing severe delays during peak hours. Drivers are strongly advised to delay non-essential travel through the area until police conclude their on-site examination and clear the carriageway.
