Drivers on the M5 near Bristol are facing severe disruption after a vehicle collided with a lamppost, causing significant delays and blocking a key slip road.
Incident Details and Emergency Response
The collision occurred on the northbound carriageway at junction 20, the Almondsbury Interchange. According to traffic monitoring site Inrix, the incident was first reported at 2:56 pm on December 26, 2025.
National Highways confirmed that one car had struck and knocked over a lighting column. A spokesperson stated, "Due to a collision, one car has struck and knocked over a lighting column. No serious injuries. Delays already and increasing."
Eyewitness reports and traffic camera footage indicated a swift and substantial emergency response, with at least five emergency service vehicles swarming the scene to manage the situation and clear the blockage.
Major Travel Disruption for Motorists
The immediate consequence of the crash has been the complete closure of the northbound exit slip road at junction 20. This has created a bottleneck effect, leading to long tailbacks and very slow traffic on the approach to the interchange.
Motorists travelling towards the M4 interchange or exiting the M5 at this key junction have been advised to expect considerable delays and to seek alternative routes if possible. The blockage has caused traffic chaos during the post-Christmas travel period.
Ongoing Situation and Advice
While authorities have confirmed there were no serious injuries, the primary focus remains on recovering the vehicle and repairing the damaged infrastructure to fully reopen the slip road.
Drivers are being urged to check live traffic updates before setting out on journeys in the area. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential for sudden, severe disruption on major UK motorways and the importance of caution, especially around complex junctions like Almondsbury.
Recovery operations are ongoing, and normal traffic conditions are not expected to resume for several hours.
