Drivers were able to walk away uninjured after a collision involving two vans and a car on the M56 motorway near Runcorn.
Motorists endured delays of about 100 minutes as tailbacks stretched back nine miles towards Chester and north Wales on Thursday morning.
The incident was reported at 6.24am and all three lanes of the eastbound carriageway were shut at junction 12 (Clifton) as police and highways teams cleared the scene.
Enter your postcode to keep up with traffic and travel in your area
A Cheshire Constabulary spokesman said the collision involved a silver Vauxhall van, a white Volkswagen van and a black Ford Focus.
There were no reported injuries and the North West Ambulance Service was not required to attend.
The police spokesman said all three lanes were cleared and reopened by 9.29am.
He added that there is a lot of surface water on the motorway at present.
