The M11 has been thrown into chaos this morning after a massive lorry smashed into and tumbled over the hard shoulder outside a major airport.
Pictures from the major motorway this morning show the lorry after it hit and nearly vaulted the hard shoulder, causing major delays and shuttering two junctions en route to Stansted Airport. National Highways England raised the alarm this morning saying the motorway was shuttered for “vehicle recovery” and “barrier repair” after the lorry accident. The stretch betweens Junction 8 at Stansted and Junction 10 at Duxford have been closed, causing sweeping delays impacting people’s trips to the major UK airport.
National Highways announced the potentially lengthy delays in a post on X, formerly Twitter, this morning, telling people to use earmarked diversion routes. The service posted on X: “M22 is closed northbound J8 – J10 (between Stansted Airport and Duxtford). Closure is for vehicle recovery and barrier repair.
“A lorry has left the carriageway. Delays of approx. 10 minutes approaching J8.”
National Highways also outlined the diversion route, saying traffic passing through the area would need to follow a route marked with a “solid circle symbol on local road signs”. The organisation said: “Exit at Junction 8 and take the second exit from the roundabout A120 to Little Hadham. Continue on the A120 through Little Hadham and Standon to A120/A10 roundabout.”
“Take third exit from the roundabout and continue on A10 through Buntingford, Chipping, Buckland and Reed, to the A10/A505 roundabout at Royston. Take third exit from the roundabout and continue on A505 to rejoin with M11 northbound carriageway at Junction 10.”
“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.
“Further information is available from National Highways by visiting our www.trafficengland.com website and travel apps, or via our regional ‘X’ feed.
“Our 24/7 contact centre team is also available to provide up to the minute information on 0300 123 5000.”
The closures followed a separate incident on the M1 today during which the southbound track between Junctions 4 and 2 near London Getway after a lorry lost its load. The two lanes have now reopened following an incident in which the Metropolitan Police worked with Highways England Traffic Officers.
Congestion caused a 45-minute delay en route to Bushey earlier this morning, and the route has since reopened. National Highways said in an update: “All lanes are NOW OPEN on the #M1 southbound between J4 and J2 near London Gateway #Edgware. Complex recovery of a lorry that lost its load is now complete.
” Delays of less than 10 minutes remain on the approach.”
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