The M11 motorway is currently closed in both directions following a serious five-car collision near Chigwell. The crash occurred just before 5pm between Junction 4 (A406 North Circular Road) and Junction 6 (M25), close to Theydon Bois.
Emergency services including Essex Police, Fire & Rescue, and National Highways Traffic Officers responded promptly to the scene. Both the northbound and southbound carriageways remain blocked as teams investigate the incident and work to clear the wreckage.
Motorists are facing significant delays, with traffic crawling at approximately 5mph between the North Circular and the M25. Delays are expected to exceed 70 minutes, and heavy congestion is spreading onto local roads as drivers attempt to avoid the closure.
Essex Police have issued a strong advisory for drivers to avoid the M11 area if possible, plan their journeys carefully, and allow extra travel time. Diversion routes have been put in place as follows:
- Northbound traffic: Follow the solid diamond symbol via A406, A104, A121, and M25 Junctions 26 to 27 to rejoin the M11 north of the crash site.
- Southbound traffic: Follow the reverse route along the same roads.
A spokesperson for National Highways said, “Due to the severity of the collision and ongoing emergency service activity, the M11 is expected to remain closed for several hours. We urge drivers to check traffic updates before setting off.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
