- Did YOU see what happened? Email freya.barnes@dailymail.co.uk
Motorists are stuck in huge standstill queues of traffic on the M25 this morning after a lorry crashed into a bridge.
The major motorway is currently closed between Junction 3 (Swanley) and Junction 4 (Orpington), with congestion piling up back to Junction 2 (Darenth Interchange).
Congestion and ‘severe’ delays are building up and also affecting the clockwise carriageway.
The closure came after a tipper truck crashed into a bridge in Kent at around 5am.
Emergency services, including Kent Police, are at the scene but it is not yet known if anyone was injured.
National Highways Traffic Officers are in attendance assisting with traffic management.
A full diversion has been put in place to help filter the traffic around the affected area whist the incident is dealt with.
National Highways expects the road to be cleared and reopened between 8am and 8:15am.
Motorists are stuck in huge standstill queues of traffic on the M25 this morning after a lorry crashed into a bridge
The major motorway is currently closed between Junction 3 (Swanley) and Junction 4 (Orpington)
They said it will take an estimated hour longer for normal traffic conditions to return due to the ‘severe delays’ which have been building on the motorway.
The M25 clockwise entry slip at junction J3 also had to be shut due to the collision.
Drivers on the M25 are being told to follow the hollow triangle diversion symbol on road signs.
- Exit the M25 clockwise at the J3 Swanley Interchange.
- At the roundabout, take 5th exit onto A20 towards London.
- Continue until the A224 roundabout (Crittal’s Corner)
- At Crittal’s Corner roundabout, take 1st exit onto A224 towards Orpington.
- At A224 / M25 Link Hewitts Roundabout take 1st exit onto M25 link and at next roundabout M25 Junction 4 take 2nd exit to rejoin M25 clockwise towards Gatwick.
A National Highways spokesperson said: ‘If this closure impacts on your planned route, please allow extra journey time.
‘Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey.
‘Our 24/7 contact centre team is also available to provide up to the minute information on 0300 123 5000.’
They added: ‘Specialist engineers are en route to inspect the damage and assist recovery crews in safely removing the vehicle from under the bridge.
‘Due to the nature of the recovery operation, I’m afraid we can’t confirm an estimated time for the reopening of the carriageway at this stage.
‘Our systems are currently showing delays of up to 45 minutes on the approach with three miles of congestion back to J2 for the A2.’
A Kent Police spokesperson said: ‘Kent Police was called at 4.46am on Monday, September 15, to a report that a lorry had struck a bridge on the clockwise carriageway of the M25 between junctions 3 and 4.
‘Patrols attended the scene alongside Highways officers and the carriageway was closed at junction 3 to allow the recovery of the vehicle.’
The Daily Mail has approached the ambulance services for comment.
