M25 Shut After Lorry Fire Sparks Gridlock and Major Delays Around London
One of Britain’s busiest motorways has been brought to a sudden standstill and the impact is rippling far beyond the M25 itself. A lorry fire in Hertfordshire has forced the closure of a critical stretch of the orbital motorway, triggering long tailbacks, diverted traffic and hours of disruption for drivers moving around and through London.
The incident happened between Junction 25 at Waltham Cross and Junction 24 near Potters Bar. An articulated lorry caught fire while travelling on the motorway, sending thick smoke into the air and prompting an immediate emergency response. Fire crews rushed to the scene, shutting lanes so they could tackle the blaze safely. As a precaution, the M25 was closed in both directions, a rare but necessary step when fire, visibility and safety are all at risk.
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For motorists, the effect was instant. Traffic quickly backed up for miles in both directions, with delays stretching well beyond the immediate area. At one point, drivers were facing waits of more than an hour and surrounding routes began to clog as vehicles were pushed onto diversion roads. The clockwise carriageway has since reopened, but the anticlockwise closure continued while crews worked to fully secure the scene and remove the burned-out lorry.
The good news is that no injuries have been reported. Firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze and emergency services coordinated traffic management to prevent further danger. But the disruption tells a bigger story about how fragile major transport arteries can be. The M25 is not just a local road. It is a vital ring connecting motorways, airports, freight routes and millions of daily journeys. When it stops, large parts of the transport network feel it almost immediately.
This matters not only for commuters, but also for logistics, deliveries and emergency travel. Incidents like this can delay goods, increase fuel costs and place extra strain on nearby towns suddenly flooded with diverted traffic. It also raises familiar questions about motorway safety, heavy vehicle maintenance and how quickly congestion can escalate when a single incident occurs.
As recovery work continues, drivers are being urged to avoid the area, follow official diversions and allow extra time if travel is unavoidable. Situations like this can change quickly, with reopening times dependent on safety checks and vehicle recovery.
We’ll continue to monitor the situation closely. Stay with us for the latest verified updates, traffic developments and what this means for travel across the region.
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