Severe delays of up to an hour have been reported after officers shut the carriageway between J36 at Warmsworth Road and the M18.
Traffic is at a near standstill around the closure, with tailbacks stretching to J38 of the A1.
As a result, traffic is also building on Warmsworth Road, the M18, and surrounding streets.
The closure comes following a severe southbound crash at around 4.25am today (April 27).