M25 Traffic Chaos: Two Incidents Cause Major Delays on Monday Morning
Motorists on the M25 faced significant disruptions on Monday morning, June 8, 2026, due to two separate incidents that led to lane closures and extensive delays. The first incident involved a lorry striking a nearside barrier, while the second was caused by a diesel spillage from a recovery truck.
Incident 1: Lorry Crash Between J9 and J10
At approximately 7:15 AM, National Highways reported that two out of four lanes were closed on the M25 clockwise between junction 9 (Leatherhead) and junction 10 (Guildford). A heavy goods vehicle had struck the nearside barrier, prompting recovery operations. Delays of 50 minutes and 5 miles of congestion were reported initially. Cleanup operations were ongoing, and normal traffic conditions were not expected until between 1:30 PM and 1:45 PM. The event was expected to clear between 1:00 PM and 1:15 PM, with normal traffic resuming by 2:00 PM to 2:15 PM.
Incident 2: Diesel Spillage Between J27 and J26
Separately, the M25 anticlockwise near Epping, between junction 27 (M11 J6) and junction 26 (Waltham Abbey/Loughton), was partially closed due to a diesel spillage from a broken-down recovery truck. Three of four lanes were closed for emergency resurfacing. Specialist contractors were on scene. Delays of up to 120 minutes and 10 miles of congestion were reported. All lanes reopened later, but residual delays persisted. Normal traffic conditions were expected between 11:15 AM and 11:30 AM.
Impact on Commuters
Both incidents occurred during peak travel times, causing severe delays for motorists. National Highways urged drivers to allow extra journey time, consider alternative routes, or delay travel if possible. Live traffic maps from Google Maps showed severe congestion in the affected areas.
Current Status
As of the latest updates, all lanes have reopened on the anticlockwise section between J27 and J26, but delays of up to 2 hours remain. On the clockwise section between J9 and J10, two lanes remain closed, with delays of about 1.5 hours. Motorists are advised to stay informed via National Highways updates.
