Overview
- An HGV struck the central reservation on the M4 westbound in the early hours on Thursday, October 1, causing extensive barrier damage and prompting an immediate emergency response by Wiltshire Police and National Highways.
- National Highways reported a significant diesel spill stretching at least 100 metres and found about 146 metres of westbound carriageway that must be resurfaced before the road can safely reopen.
- Recovery of the HGV finished at 06:40 on Thursday, after which crews began treating the contaminated surface while police and traffic officers turned and released vehicles that had been trapped in the closure.
- Drivers are being directed to follow the Solid Diamond signed diversions with separate routes for vehicles under and over 4.2 metres, and motorists were warned to expect delays through the evening peak.
- Two separate heavy-vehicle incidents on the A40 and an overturned vehicle on the M25 were cleared with no reported serious injuries, but the cluster of crashes shows how major-route disruptions can quickly shift traffic onto smaller roads and raise congestion for commuters and freight operators.