Artisan travelling north is crossing motorway (9)

I believe the answer is:

ironsmith

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'artisan' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'travelling north is crossing motorway' is the wordplay.
'travelling' is an anagram indicator.
'crossing' is an insertion indicator (to cross can mean to go over or around).
'motorway' becomes 'MI' (resembles M1, English motorway).
'north'+'is'='northis'
'northis' anagrammed gives 'ironsth'.
'ironsth' enclosing 'mi' is 'IRONSMITH'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ironsmith that I've seen before include "Master forger" , "Metalworker" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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