A major traffic incident on the M1 has caused chaos and severe delays for commuters this evening. The southbound carriageway remains closed, and the situation is only expected to worsen with the evening rush hour.
The incident began with a vehicle fire, specifically a van, which broke out around 1.20 pm today. The fire occurred between Junction 24 near Kegworth and Junction 23a near East Midlands Airport. Emergency services swiftly responded, but the aftermath has proven more challenging.
The fire itself was extinguished, but a significant spillage of around 50 liters of fuel has caused extensive damage to the road surface. This has led to the road remaining closed throughout the evening, with emergency repairs underway.
The impact of the incident has been felt across the region. Queues have formed, stretching as far as nine miles, with traffic backing up from Nottingham. Other major routes in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire have also experienced delays, including the A50 and A453.
Despite the closure, traffic has been able to bypass the motorway by leaving at Junction 24, taking the A453 southbound, and rejoining at Junction 23a. However, this has caused extra congestion in Derby, affecting bus services.
National Highways has provided updates, stating that specialist contractors are en route to assess and treat the contaminated road surface. A full safety inspection will be conducted before any decision to reopen the road is made.
As the situation unfolds, we will continue to provide live updates. Stay tuned for the latest information on this developing story.
Update 19:15: Severe delays persist as emergency repairs continue.
Update 18:55: Here's a summary of what we know so far:
- The M1 southbound has been closed since lunchtime between Junctions 24 and 23a.
- Firefighters responded to a van that caught fire after pulling over onto the hard shoulder.
- While the fire was extinguished, the fuel spillage caused severe road damage.
- Queues have formed, with a nine-mile tailback stretching from Nottingham.
Update 18:32: The extra traffic in Derby is causing significant disruptions to bus services.
Update 17:40: Trapped traffic has been released, but the road remains closed.
Update 16:41: Long queues are stretching back as far as Nottingham, with delays on other major roads in the area.
Update 16:22: Some traffic is being released, but severe delays are still expected.
Update 16:02: Traffic monitoring services report severe delays on the M1 southbound.
Update 15:50: The fire has been extinguished, but traffic remains held.
Update 15:30: No casualties have been reported, and the fire service is treating this as an ongoing incident.
Update 15:10: Footage of the blaze has been shared by the fire service.
Update 14:53: Stay tuned for more updates and exclusive content by making us your preferred source on Google.
Update 14:45: Delays have reached up to one hour along the M1, with congestion reported by Google Maps and Inrix.
Update 14:30: A new image reveals the wreckage from the earlier van fire. No reopening time has been indicated yet.
Update 14:15: Diversions are in place for drivers, with a specific route marked with a solid triangle symbol.
Update 13:57: The fuel spillage clean-up is underway, and the road will remain closed until it's complete. Delays are worsening, and motorists are advised to avoid the area.
Update 13:47: Welcome to our live coverage of this developing traffic incident on the M1.
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