There are long delays of between 50 and 70 minutes on a stretch of M5 in the West Country this morning (Wednesday, January 15), following a crash on the northbound carriageway that closed the motorway for an hour at Cribbs Causeway. There was also a fire following the collision which was quickly put out by firefighters.
National Highways is reporting miles of stationary and very slow-moving traffic on the northbound carriageway between junction 20 and junction 17. Normal traffic conditions are not expected to return until 9.45am this morning.
Traffic monitoring site Inrix reports: “M5 northbound exit slip road closed severe delays, two lanes closed due to vehicle fire at J17 A4018 (Cribbs Causeway). Congestion to all the way back to J19 (Portishead). Travel time is around 70 minutes.
“The road was blocked for around an hour but it has now been reopened, however two lanes remain closed on the main carriageway and the exit slip road at J17 is also closed.”
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police confirmed this morning that the incident on the M5 Northbound was a collision, and that a resulting “small” vehicle fire was quickly put out by the fire service, which attended the scene for support.
The police spokesperson added that “one or two people” were checked over at the scene by the ambulance service, but it did not appear that anyone needed to be taken to hospital.
The fire service and ambulance service have been contacted for comment.
The incident was first reported the at 6.20am. Earlier this morning, at about 5.30am, the motorway also saw a crash between two lorries and a car on the southbound carriageway, also at junction 18, which was subsequently cleared. The southbound carriageway is currently flowing freely.
You can follow updates with our live blog here.
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