A major collision occurred on a key motorway in the UK, resulting in the closure of the roadway in both directions overnight. The M27 was shut down between Southampton and Portsmouth, specifically between junctions 11 and 12, during the early hours of Tuesday, January 6, with Hampshire emergency services responding to the scene.
The motorway has since been reopened to traffic. National Highways has confirmed that all lanes are now accessible in both eastbound and westbound directions without any delays in the area.
Although the westbound carriageway has been reopened, the eastbound side between junctions 11 and 12 remains partially closed as police continue their investigation. National Highways mentioned that two lanes on the eastbound side are still closed, with one lane open for traffic. Normal traffic flow is anticipated to resume between 5:45 am and 6:00 am on January 6, with congestion expected to clear by 6:30 am.
Access for westbound traffic has been approved, indicated by the removal of the closure notice from the National Highways website; however, confirmation is pending due to the unavailability of traffic cameras and CCTV in the area.
National Highways alerted the public about the closure shortly before 3 am and advised motorists in the South East to stay informed about the ongoing incident. Traffic conditions are predicted to normalize by 5 am, but restoration times to the motorway are subject to change given the evolving situation.
While diversion routes are in operation, detailed information about these diversions remains unclear. The closure of the M27 in both directions between junctions 12 and 11 was prompted by a serious crash, as confirmed by National Highways citing the ongoing emergency response by Hampshire services.
Emergency responders are currently present at the scene, with an air ambulance en route to provide assistance.