M5 rolling roadblock in Somerset after police incident
All traffic was held on the M5 in Somerset following a concern for welfare incident[1] this morning (August 21). A lane was closed on the southbound carriageway near Portishead[2] at around 7.45am before traffic was stopped in both directions at 8am.
Police have since confirmed that officers put a rolling roadblock in place as they attended a concern for welfare call. Fortunately, the incident came to a safe conclusion and the motorway fully reopened by 8.15am.
After the motorway was reopened, residual delays remained in both directions between junction 18 and junction 19. A motorway camera showed heavy traffic as vehicles were released from the roadblock.
Traffic monitoring site Inrix reported that traffic had eventually eased by around 8.50am. It said: "Traffic easing, Earlier police incident on M5 in both directions from J18 M49 to J19 A369 Martcombe Road (Portishead). Note change of details.
"Traffic on both carriageways has now been released at around 08.10. Originally reported as an accident."
References
- ^ held on the M5 in Somerset following a concern for welfare incident (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Portishead (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ The Somerset pub untouched by time that is the ideal countryside stop (www.somersetlive.co.uk)