Drivers are being warned of traffic chaos this morning as a vehicle fire has shut down large parts of the M25 motorway, causing long delays near Heathrow Airport.
National Highways: East reports that three lanes are closed on the M25 clockwise between J16 (M40) and J17 (Rickmansworth) due to a road traffic collision and subsequent vehicle fire.
The fourth lane is also closed on the anti-clockwise carriageway due to smoke from the vehicle fire.
Taking to social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, National Highways: East provided an update on the traffic situation.
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It stated that recovery of the vehicle was now complete, with lane three being reopened.
It added that lane four remains closed clockwise between J16 and J17 for "clear up".
There is an approximate 90-minute delay, with nine miles of congestion back to Junction 14, near Heathrow Airport.
National Highways added: "Please plan ahead and allow extra time if travelling to Heathrow Terminal 5 this morning."
Long delays are expected on the M25 as emergency services deal with the car fire
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
The transport organisation confirmed that Thames Valley Police's Roads Policing unit is at the scene.
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: "At around 7.06am today there was a vehicle on fire as a result of a three-vehicle RTC on the M25 Northbound, J16/J17.
"There were no injuries and Highways England have put a single lane closure in on lane three."
Traffic maps suggest that normal traffic conditions will not return until the afternoon at the earliest.
There are around nine miles of delays on the approach to Heathrow Airport
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Drivers face major delays across the transport network this morning
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
It comes as motorists face issues on the M25 between Junction 5 (Sevenoaks) and Junction 6 (Godstone).
The South-East division of National Highways reported that a broken down van had caused delays of 30 minutes and around five miles of congestion.
While the van was recovered within an hour of the incident being reported, a "significant diesel spill" was left on the road.
Some lanes remain closed for clean-up
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
The diesel spill was cleared earlier this morning, although National Highways warned that delays remain.
Similarly, a multi-vehicle collision meant the west tunnel of the Dartford Crossing was closed, with another warning being issued.
The transport organisation stated that one vehicle could not be moved, with recovery agents being dispatched to assist at the scene.