Motorists on the M5 in Somerset are experiencing frustrating delays of up to three hours following a multi-vehicle collision. National Highways has reported severe congestion stretching 13 miles between Burnham-on-Sea and Weston-super-Mare on the northbound carriageway, after a crash occurred just before midday on Saturday, August 30.
Traffic quickly built up as emergency services responded to the incident, leading to a temporary full stop before two lanes were closed, leaving only one lane open for vehicles. This bottleneck caused journey times to balloon from an initial 40 minutes to as long as three hours throughout the afternoon.
By around 2 p.m., all lanes were reopened and traffic began to flow again, but significant delays remained in the area. National Highways has issued a warning advising drivers to factor in extra time when planning journeys along this stretch of the motorway.
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In an official update, National Highways stated: “All lanes are now OPEN on the M5 northbound between J22 Burnham-on-Sea and J21 Weston-super-Mare following a collision. Please allow extra time as delays of 3 hours remain with approximately 13 miles of congestion.”
Commuters caught in the queue shared their experiences, with one advising fellow drivers to exit before Junction 23 to avoid the lengthy stationary traffic. Another noted that variable message signs indicated delays of around two hours between Junctions 24 and 21.
Drivers are reminded to check traffic updates and plan accordingly to avoid extended time on the road.