The M3 motorway was closed northbound between Junction 4 and Junction 3 in Surrey after a lorry hit the Portsmouth Road Bridge just after 1.30am.
An over-height lorry struck the bridge going over the M3 near Frimley. The impact caused some of its cargo to spill onto the motorway. Surrey Police and Highways England swiftly closed all lanes to manage the incident.
Specialist cranes were called in to remove the lorry’s load and clear the wreckage from the motorway.
Hard closures forced drivers to exit at Junction 4a, sparking early-morning congestion as motorists scrambled to avoid the chaos.
“A diversion route is in place. Drivers are advised to follow the black diamond diversion route as the motorway is likely to remain closed for the next few hours while cleanup and recovery operations take place,” said a Highways England spokesperson.
The extent of damage to the Portsmouth Road Bridge remains unclear. Recovery teams worked through the early hours to clear the scene.
Update: The lorry has now been recovered. The eastbound carriageway has reopened and all closures have been lifted.
Originally published by UKNIP.
