Commuters on the M25 face traffic chaos this morning as three of four lanes are closed after a truck spilled fuel across the carriageway.
Specialists are on the scene with emergency road resurfacing taking place between J27 and J26 anti-clockwise after the carriageway was covered with diesel, National Highways have said.
Drivers are currently facing severe delays of up to 90 minutes through the area with approximately 7 miles of queues, the agency said.
New UpdatesToday09:02 BST
There are currently delays of 2 hours against expected traffic as National Highways warns of ‘severe’ congestion.
It looks as though the disruption is due to last until around noon with normal traffic conditions expected to return between 11:15 and 11:30 this morning, according to the latest estimates.
The delays are the result or the earlier emergency resurfacing works, the agency said.
Joe SmithToday08:10 BST
A post from Essex County Council shows traffic queuing as a result of the incident.
Joe SmithToday07:56 BST
The latest update from National Highways warns drivers the delays from the overnight fuel spill are due to impact this morning’s rush hour.
Joe SmithToday07:26 BST
The latest estimate from the National Highways Agency predicts that normal traffic conditions are expected between 08:45 and 09:00 this morning. These estimates are often revised as the situation on the ground changes.
In the meantime drivers face delays of 1 and a half hours against expected traffic as emergency resurfacing work takes place.
Joe SmithToday07:21 BST
Three out of four lanes on a 10-mile anti-clockwise stretch of the M25 between junctions 27 and 26 near Epping in Essex were closed.
The incident on the M25 this morning(Image: Google)
National Highways have said: “Lanes 1, 2 and 3 of (4) on the M25 are closed anti clockwise between J27 and J26 due to a broken down recovery truck which has lost its diesel tank and spilt its contents over the carriageway.
“Specialist contractors are on scene to complete emergency resurfacing.
“The resurfacing works are progressing but at this stage there are no times for the completion of the works.
“Please be aware that there are severe delays of up 90 minutes through the area with approximately 7 miles of congestion.”