Particle.news
Download on the App Store

49,000 Obstructions Cleared From England’s Major Roads in 2025

National Highways warns that debris removal often forces lane closures, creating safety risks for staff and drivers.

Overview

  • National Highways logged more than 49,000 items cleared from motorways and major A roads between January and September 2025.
  • Building and construction materials were the largest category with 9,685 items, followed by 8,565 vehicle parts, 4,606 tyres and 3,575 household or garden items.
  • Traffic officers also recorded 3,087 animal fatalities and removed 797 abandoned vehicles over the same period.
  • A fairground ride was recovered off the M180 near Scunthorpe in November, while an abandoned boat was found beside the A42 near Measham in July.
  • The M6 and M1 saw the highest incident totals with nearly 11,000 cases combined, with other busy routes such as the M25, M53 and M62 also featuring prominently.