Drivers face delays due to M25 and M20 closures

2 hours ago

Craig BuchanSouth East

Drivers have been warned to expect delays due to carriageway closures affecting the M25 and M20.

The M25 in Kent is closed clockwise after a tipper truck "struck a bridge" between Swanley and Orpington, National Highways said.

The bridge now "requires a structural inspection" between junction three, which joins the M20, and junction four.

Meanwhile, the M20's coastbound carriageway is shut between junction seven (Detling Interchange) and junction eight (Hollingbourne) after overnight roadworks were not lifted on schedule.

National Highways said: "A damaged bridge joint was identified impacting all three lanes" during the roadworks.

The agency said the joint needed fully replacing and it could not give an estimated reopening time for the motorway.

It said it was "working on arranging emergency replacement work to occur as soon as possible".

Motorists have been advised to use the diversion route marked with a hollow circle on signs and for Dover-bound traffic to use the A2 / M2 route instead.

Kent Police said it was called to the M25 crash at 04.46 BST.

No injuries were reported.

National Highways has advised drivers to follow the hollow triangle diversion symbol on road signs to avoid the closure.

An engineer is on their way to inspect the bridge, it added.