M3 traffic: Drivers face long delays and congestion issues following huge vehicle fire on key motorway
Traffic is still being held along the M3
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
Motorists face lengthy delays along a key motorway following a vehicle fire, with drivers potentially facing five miles of tailbacks.
Traffic is currently being held along the M3 westbound between Junction 3 Bagshot and Junction 4 Farnborough after a vehicle caught fire earlier this morning.
National Highways: South-East confirmed that traffic was being held and that Surrey Fire and Rescue Service were in attendance to help extinguish the fire.
Traffic is still being held, with live traffic maps showing that five miles of congestion is building up towards the M25.
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Emergency services remain on the scene
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
Traffic experts Inrix said there were long delays with three lanes closed and queuing traffic being held as a result of the vehicle fire.
It added: "Road is now passable in lane four with lanes one, two and three (of four) remaining closed."
The vehicle fire has been extinguished and the vehicle is awaiting recovery after intervention from the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.
Inrix also reported that traffic along the other side of the road remaining very slow "due to onlookers".
The incident was first reported at around 8.15am with rush hour contributing to the delays.
In the latest update from National Highways, it warned that drivers face 45 minutes of delays and five miles of congestion.
The National Highways website estimates that it will take until 10.15am to clear, with traffic returning to normal conditions at a similar time.
The latest images show recovery teams moving the vehicle and any debris onto a flatbed to clear the scene.
A spokesperson for SFRS told GB News: "We received a call this morning around 8.15am to a report of RTC on the M3 between junctions 3 and 4, Lightwater to Frimley.
“Three fire engines were sent. Two cars and two vans were involved in a collision which resulted in one car setting fire from the bonnet.
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Long tailbacks can be seen along the M3 motorway
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
“The fire was tackled and the incident cleared, with crews leaving the scene around 09.40am.”