Chaos struck the M25 this morning after a crash involving two lorries on the anti-clockwise carriageway between junction 6 (Godstone) and junction 5 (Chevening). One of the lorries overturned, spilling hazardous waste, diesel, and oil across the road.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, 14 May 2025. National Highways confirmed that the affected stretch will remain completely closed throughout the morning rush hour to allow for a thorough clean-up and possible resurfacing.
A National Highways spokesperson said, “Due to the nature of the spill, the road will remain closed until all debris and contaminants are safely cleared. This may take several hours.” Emergency teams, including environmental specialists, are working on site to manage the hazardous spill and assess any road damage.
Thousands of drivers in the South East have been impacted by the closure, with routes to Heathrow and Gatwick airports, the Port of Dover, and the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone experiencing significant delays. By 7am, delays of up to 40 minutes were reported, with traffic moving slowly past the incident area.
Diversions have been put in place via local A roads, but congestion is expected to continue well into the morning.
Incident Timeline:
4:14am: National Highways was alerted to the crash involving two lorries.
7:00am: Delays of over 40 minutes were reported on approaches to the closure.
Ongoing: Clean-up teams and environmental specialists remain on site addressing hazardous spills and assessing road conditions.
Travel Tips:
Motorists are advised to avoid the affected stretch of the M25 if possible. Check live traffic updates before travelling, follow official diversion routes, and avoid using smaller local roads to bypass the congestion.
National Highways and emergency services continue to monitor the situation closely. Further updates will be provided as the clean-up progresses.
Originally published by UKNIP.
