Two lanes were closed on the M25 this afternoon following a serious car crash, causing significant traffic disruption for motorists heading towards Stansted Airport. The incident occurred between junction 29 at Upminster and junction 30 at Thurrock, leading to congestion that lasted for several hours.
National Highways and Essex Police attended the scene. Essex Police confirmed that no injuries were reported, and diversions were put in place. Traffic was reportedly delayed by up to 10 minutes at the height of the incident, with congestion expected to persist as vehicles returned to normal flow.
The closure added to existing travel difficulties on the M25, where roadworks between junction 10 and the A3 interchange have forced drivers onto alternative routes until Monday. This stretch of motorway has been beset by issues since April 11, with multiple incidents logged on the Highways England report page.
Further congestion was reported on the anticlockwise carriageway between junctions 13 and 12, and between junctions 2 and 1A, with delays expected to continue until at least 1pm. On Friday, a separate accident blocked the anticlockwise entry slip at junction 13 during rush hour, clearing around 5.15pm.
Despite the disruption, some motorists found a silver lining. One social media user, describing herself as a 'passenger princess', shared a picture of a plane flying over the road, saying it was the only part of the M25 she didn't mind being stuck in traffic for. National Highways later confirmed the crash had been cleared and traffic was returning to normal.
