A serious multi-vehicle collision on the M4 motorway has caused widespread disruption and hours of gridlock during a busy travel period, bringing traffic to a standstill near Swindon.
Emergency Response and Lane Closures
Emergency services rushed to the scene between Junction 16 for Swindon and Junction 17 for Chippenham after reports of a significant multi-vehicle incident. The collision resulted in the immediate closure of multiple lanes, creating a bottleneck effect that stretched for miles in both directions.
Thames Valley Police confirmed they were managing a "complex incident" requiring coordination between multiple emergency services. Ambulance crews attended to those involved while recovery operations worked to clear the damaged vehicles from the carriageway.
Travel Chaos and Extensive Delays
Commuters and long-distance travellers faced severe disruption as the incident occurred during a peak travel period. Motorists reported being stuck in stationary traffic for over two hours, with some abandoning their journeys altogether.
Key impacts included:
- Queueing traffic stretching over 8 miles at its peak
- Delays of more than 90 minutes for affected motorists
- Significant knock-on effects on local A-roads as drivers sought alternative routes
- Evening commute severely impacted as recovery operations continued
Recovery Operation and Reopening
Highways England teams worked throughout the incident to manage traffic flow and coordinate the recovery of damaged vehicles. A complex operation was required to safely remove the wreckage and assess any damage to the road surface.
As lanes gradually reopened, residual delays persisted well into the evening, with traffic taking several hours to return to normal patterns. Motorists were advised to allow extra journey time and consider alternative routes if travelling in the area.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of Britain's major transport arteries and how quickly a single incident can create widespread disruption affecting thousands of travellers.
