Yahoo News Delays of 90 minutes on M5 as vast queues form during police incident
Massive queues have formed on the M5 with delays of at least an hour and a half on both the northbound and southbound carriageways near Bridgwater, in Somerset. Police have closed the motorway between junctions 23 and 24 due to an ongoing incident this afternoon, Thursday, July 4.
It is not clear when the motorway will reopen again. National Highways is currently predicting that normal traffic conditions will not return to either carriageway before 6pm this evening.
There are several miles of queuing traffic approaching the incident on both carriageways of the M5. Trapped traffic is being turned around and diversions have been put in place. Diversion routes are also reportedly becoming congested as drivers are funnelled towards A-roads.
READ MORE
Traffic and travel monitoring service Inrix reports: "M5 in both directions closed, long delays due to police incident from J23 A39 (Bridgwater North) to J24 A38 Taunton Road (Bridgwater South). Congestion to North J25 (Taunton) and South Sedgemoor Services. The A39 that runs through Bridgwater and Knowle is also very slow."
"Cameras shows trapped traffic within the closure is still being turned around, traffic was held before midday. The A372 Westonzoyland Road is also closed. Diversions northbound via the A38 towards Bridgwater and southbound via the A39 towards Dunball Roundabout."
People trapped within the area of the closure have been seen leaving their vehicles. National Highways reports stationary traffic stretching back to Taunton on the northbound carriageway and queues to Edithmead southbound.
