A major incident on the M23 motorway has triggered travel chaos during the Tuesday evening rush hour, with severe delays and gridlocked traffic reported across West Sussex.
The southbound carriageway was fully closed between Junction 10 for Crawley and Junction 11 for Pease Pottage following a serious incident, sparking massive tailbacks. National Highways South-East confirmed the closure just after 4:30 PM, warning motorists of significant disruption.
Severe Delays and Gridlocked Traffic
Drivers faced nightmarish conditions with queues stretching approximately seven miles and delay times soaring to at least 90 minutes above normal journey times. The congestion began to build rapidly following the closure, affecting both the motorway and surrounding local routes as drivers sought alternative paths.
National Highways traffic officers and emergency services were swiftly on the scene to manage the situation and investigate the incident.
Official Diversion Routes Advised
To help navigate the closure, a formal diversion route was established:
- Exit the M23 at Junction 10.
- Follow the A264 towards Horsham.
- At the roundabout, take the A23 towards Brighton and then re-join the M23 at Junction 11.
Motorists were strongly advised to allow extra time for their journeys or to consider postponing travel if possible. The incident caused a ripple effect of congestion on neighbouring A-roads, compounding the travel misery for commuters and freight drivers alike.
Live traffic monitoring systems showed stationary or slow-moving traffic throughout the affected area, with recovery operations ongoing to clear the scene and restore normal traffic flow.
