M5 closed: Drivers face four-hour delays and 11 miles of congestion after devastating chemical fire

Emergency services and traffic officers remain on the scene with long tailbacks in Somerset as the vehicle is recovered and clear-up work gets underway.

National Highways: South-West is reporting delays of up to four hours heading southbound with 11 miles of delays, with hours-long delays on the northbound carriageway.

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VIDEO: Lorry fire closes M5 between Burnham-On-Sea and Bridgwater in both directions — read more below: https://t.co/N8dJthqY26 pic.twitter.com/dahYfR5dX8

— Burnham-On-Sea.com (@burnham_on_sea) October 25, 2024

Emergency services including Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue initially attended the scene. National Highways Traffic Officers also attended to assist with traffic management.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: "We are currently on-site at a lorry fire on the M5 motorway’s hard shoulder, between Junctions 22 (Edithmead) and 23 (Dunball).

"The lorry was transporting milk powder and diesel, and we are using a telehandler to safely offload these materials. The driver is unharmed.

"The southbound carriageway remains closed as our teams work to fully extinguish the fire; however, the northbound carriageway has now been reopened, with a reduced speed limit in place.

"We are collaborating closely with partner agencies, including the police and the Environment Agency."

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “We were called at 09:29hrs on Friday 25 October to an incident near Burnham-on-sea. We sent one double-crewed land ambulance to the scene."

National Highways also urged motorists to stay inside their cars while emergency services were working to put out the fire.

Road users travelling southbound are advised to follow the solid diamond diversion symbol

• Leave the M5 south at J22 and at the roundabout take the first exit onto the A38 heading south
• Follow the A38 south through Highbridge, Huntspill, and Pawlett to Dunball and the roundabout with the A39
• Take the first exit onto the A39 and continue to the M5 J23 roundabout.
• Take the third exit to rejoin the M5 south at J23

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Road users travelling northbound are advised to follow the solid circle diversion symbol

• Leave the M5 north at J23 and take the first exit onto the A39.
• Continue on the A39 to the roundabout with the A38 at Dunball and take the third exit onto the A38 heading north
• Follow the A38 through Pawlett, Huntspill, and Highbridge until the roundabout with the M5 J22
• Take the third exit to rejoin the M5 north at J22