A severe accident occurred on the M4 motorway this morning, causing the closure of the major roadway and resulting in significant congestion during rush hour. The closure affected both directions of the motorway near Bridgend, compounded by a separate breakdown near the Prince of Wales bridge, leading to extensive traffic delays.
South Wales Police reported that officers were responding to the crash scene and advised the public to avoid the area due to increasing traffic. National Highways confirmed the reopening of previously closed lanes on the M4 after emergency repair works were completed.
Emergency repairs on the Prince of Wales bridge led to the closure of two lanes, with motorists facing up to 30-minute delays. Highways England announced the reopening of lane 2 on the M4 to provide some relief to drivers.
Traffic England issued an alert indicating nearly an hour of delays on the M4, with congestion causing delays of up to 40 minutes. The situation was not expected to normalize until later in the morning, subject to change. AA traffic monitoring tools displayed significant gridlock on the M4, with a long section of the motorway showing as heavily congested.
South Wales Police reiterated warnings to avoid the crash area, with Lane 3 closed in both directions near Bridgend. Traffic congestion continued to worsen along various points of the M4, notably between Junction 36 A4061 and Junction 35 A473, as well as on the Prince of Wales bridge from Junction 23 M48 to Junction 22 M49.