Drivers to face long delays on major motorway as multi-vehicle crash and lorry fire cause traffic to halt

The incident has created lengthy tailbacks with drivers stuck on the motorway, severely affected by the incident.

Emergency services have mounted a response to the incident, with Bedfordshire Police and National Highways Traffic Officers working at the scene alongside other emergency responders.

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But while the initial delays were supposed to be 30 minutes, the agency extended the measures after an additional incident impacted the closure area.

Bedfordshire Fire Service are now tackling a lorry fire that occurred amongst vehicles caught in the stationary traffic, though this blaze is unrelated to the original collision.

National Highways East posted on X: "Long delays of up to 60 minutes reported M1 north approaching the closure between J11 Luton & J11A Dunstable. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue are now also dealing with an unrelated lorry fire which was part of the traffic caught within the closure."

Drivers caught in the closure are being directed to follow the hollow triangle diversion symbol on road signs, exiting at Junction 11 onto the A505 Dunstable Road.

The alternative route takes motorists through Poynters Road and Park Road North, continuing via The Green through Houghton Regis.

The diversion continues through Houghton Regis via Park Road North and The Green, before turning right onto the A5120 through Toddington. Drivers can then rejoin the M1 at Junction 12.

This alternative route takes motorists through several residential areas and is likely to experience increased congestion as diverted traffic navigates the local road network.

National Highways has urged drivers to allow extra journey time and consider re-routing or delaying their travel where possible.

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But more worryingly, for drivers travelling to or from Luton Airport, National Highways warned that the closure is likely to cause particular disruption given the proximity to Junction 11.

The agency suggested alternative routes via the M25 and A1 for longer-distance journeys to avoid the affected section entirely.

Updating drivers, National Highways shared on X: "Delays of over an hour and six miles of congestion remain on the M1 northbound in Bedfordshire due to an earlier collision and now an additional lorry fire.

"The road is closed within J11 (Luton) with traffic leaving at the junction and then re-joining. Please allow extra time."

Replying to drivers caught in the junction, National Highways explained that they are working to clear two lanes to allow traffic to be released to run past the scene.

But the agency warned that due to debris, oil and four vehicles (two cars and two lorries) being caught in the collision, it will take time to clear the lane with closures in place for a while, which will cause delays.

In another update, National Highways shared: "Traffic on the M1 between J10 and J11 will be doing just that. Our officers are currently in the process of putting the closure in place, which, to do safely, requires traffic to be stopped."

The M1 starts at Edgware in north London and ends between Micklefield and Aberford. It connects to several other motorways, with junctions providing access to the M25, M45, M6, M69, M18, M62, M621 and A1M.