A fiery incident involving a lorry has resulted in a complete halt on a busy motorway this morning. The M5 southbound in Gloucestershire is experiencing significant traffic congestion as a result of the ongoing fire, leading to the closure of the motorway by National Highways.
According to a statement issued by National Highways, fire crews are currently working to control the blaze, and recovery operations are not expected to commence before 6:00 am. The authorities have confirmed that the load carried by the lorry is not hazardous, and efforts are being made to reopen lanes in coordination with the fire department.
The Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service is actively tackling the fire that erupted between junctions 13 and 14 on the M5 southbound. Law enforcement officials are also present at the scene to manage the situation.
Traffic on the M5 southbound in Gloucestershire between junctions 13 and 14 is at a standstill due to the lorry fire. Emergency services, including @Glosfire and @Glos_Police, are on-site to assist in managing road closures and ensuring public safety.
Inrix, a traffic monitoring site, has reported that the M5 southbound is closed with extensive delays from junction 13 (A419, Stroud) to junction 14 (B4509, Thornbury / Falfield). The closure, in effect since 2:25 am, has led to diversions via the A38 from Whitminster to Falfield for rejoining at junction 14.
A spokesperson from National Highways has stated that a double-deck trailer transporting pallets remains a concern on the M5, with fire crews actively working to contain the situation. Recovery operations are expected to commence post-6 am, with a full closure necessary for the safe removal of the vehicle and debris.