Motorists across the South East faced Monday morning traffic nightmares today as major incidents forced the closure of two of Britain’s busiest motorways, leaving thousands stranded and causing delays stretching back for miles.
The M25, Britain’s busiest motorway, was completely shut in both directions between Junction 29 at Upminster and Junction 30 at Aveley following what Essex Police described as a “police incident”. Meanwhile, the M20 in Kent was closed after a vehicle plummeted from an overbridge in a shocking collision that left drivers abandoning their cars on the carriageway.
National Highways warned that normal traffic conditions were not expected to return for at least three hours on the M20, whilst frustrated motorists on the M25 faced minimum delays of 60 minutes as emergency services worked at both scenes.
Air Ambulance Called to M25 Incident
Essex Police confirmed they were dealing with a serious incident on the M25, with the force deploying significant resources including an air ambulance to the scene. The closure affected both carriageways of the orbital motorway between the Upminster and Thurrock junctions, bringing traffic to a complete standstill during Monday morning’s rush hour.
National Highways Traffic Officers were assisting with traffic management as queues rapidly built up, particularly affecting northbound traffic. The nature of the police incident remained unclear at the time of publication, with Essex Police yet to release detailed information about casualties or the circumstances leading to the complete closure.
Motorists face long delays of at least 60 minutes, with stationary traffic being seen along the M25 heading north,” a National Highways spokesperson confirmed, urging drivers to seek alternative routes where possible.
Vehicle Falls from M20 Overbridge
In a separate but equally dramatic incident, Kent Police were called to a serious collision on the M20 that resulted in a vehicle falling from an overbridge. The shocking accident forced the closure of both carriageways between Junction 3 at Addington and Junction 1 at Swanley, creating chaos for holidaymakers and commuters alike.
Emergency services, including Kent Police and National Highways Traffic Officers, rushed to assess the scene of what witnesses described as a catastrophic incident. The severity of the collision led to the extraordinary sight of drivers exiting their vehicles and walking along the carriageway as they faced hours of delays.
Traffic monitoring systems indicated that the M20 closure would likely remain in place for several hours, with National Highways warning that normal conditions were not expected to return for at least three hours from the initial incident. However, officials cautioned this timeframe was “likely to change later into the afternoon” as emergency services continued their work.
Diversion Routes Overwhelmed
National Highways quickly implemented diversion routes to help motorists avoid the worst of the delays, though these alternative routes soon became congested as thousands of vehicles sought to bypass the closures. For the M20 closure, westbound traffic was being diverted via Junction 2 and local routes, whilst eastbound diversions were in place through surrounding A-roads.
The timing of both incidents could hardly have been worse, occurring during the busy Monday morning commute when thousands of workers were attempting to reach their destinations. The knock-on effects were felt across the entire South East road network, with surrounding routes becoming gridlocked as drivers desperately sought alternatives.
Emergency Services Response
The scale of the emergency response highlighted the severity of both incidents. On the M25, the presence of an air ambulance suggested potential serious injuries, though Essex Police had not confirmed casualty figures at the time of writing. The force deployed multiple units to manage the scene and investigate the circumstances of the incident.
Similarly, Kent Police’s response to the M20 overbridge incident involved multiple emergency service vehicles and specialist units trained in dealing with complex collision scenes. The fact that a vehicle had fallen from an overbridge raised immediate concerns about the welfare of those involved and the structural integrity of the bridge itself.
Travel Chaos Spreads Across Region
The simultaneous closure of two major motorways created a perfect storm of traffic congestion across the South East. The M25, often dubbed Britain’s largest car park due to its frequent congestion, carries approximately 200,000 vehicles daily through some sections. Its closure between Junctions 29 and 30 effectively cut off a vital link for traffic travelling between Essex and Kent.
Meanwhile, the M20 serves as a crucial route for traffic heading to and from the Channel ports and the Eurotunnel. Its closure not only affected domestic traffic but also international hauliers and holidaymakers attempting to reach ferry and train services to the Continent.
Social media quickly filled with images of the stationary traffic, with frustrated motorists sharing photos of people walking on the M20 carriageway and the endless queues building on the M25. Many complained about the lack of information and the absence of facilities for those trapped in their vehicles for hours.
Ongoing Investigation
Both incidents remained under investigation as this article went to press, with police forces working to establish the exact circumstances that led to each closure. The complexity of the M20 incident, involving a vehicle falling from an overbridge, suggested that structural engineers might need to assess the bridge before the motorway could fully reopen.
For the M25 incident, the deployment of significant police resources and an air ambulance indicated the seriousness of whatever had occurred, though authorities remained tight-lipped about specific details pending notification of next of kin and completion of initial investigations.
Advice for Motorists
National Highways urged all motorists planning to use either route to check traffic conditions before travelling and to allow significant extra time for their journeys. They recommended using official traffic information services and following signed diversion routes rather than relying on satellite navigation systems, which might not account for the closures.
For those already caught in the queues, authorities advised remaining in vehicles unless directed otherwise by police, keeping windows closed in stationary traffic, and ensuring they had adequate water supplies, particularly given the warm August weather.
As the afternoon wore on, the true extent of the traffic impact became clear, with delays rippling out across the entire South East road network. What should have been a routine Monday morning turned into a nightmare for thousands of motorists caught up in two of the most serious motorway incidents of the summer.
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