Bank Holiday getaway mayhem live after lorry crash closes M42 lanes
Drivers are facing severe delays after a lorry crashed and shed paint all over the motorway. The HGV crashed on the M42 southbound between junctions five and four, between Solihull and Shirley. National Highways Traffic Officers are on the scene and three lanes have been closed as a clean-up operation gets underway.
Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join[1] National Highways posted on X: "3 (of 4) lanes are closed on the #M42 southbound in the #WestMidlands between J5 #Solihull and J4 #Shirley due to a collision involving a HGV which has spilled paint across 3 lanes. "National Highways Traffic Officers are currently on scene dealing with traffic management."
The opposite side is also congested to J3A (M40 Interchange) due to the onlookers. It happened at the start of the last summer Bank Holiday weekend of the summer. Midland drivers have been warned of potential roads issues with more than 17 million car getaways planned and the Midlands badly hit by public transport problems.
The RAC, which issued the alert, urged drivers to set off as early as possible or "be prepared to spend longer in traffic". The South East and South West were expected to have some of the worst congestion. 20:38 birminghammail.co.uk
Lanes remain closed for clear up but no queues
The latest from National Highways is: "Lanes 1 and 2 remain closed for ongoing clean up works and ongoing vehicle recovery.
"It is expected that the clear up works will take several further hours." We will be ending our updates here. Thank you for joining us.
19:39 birminghammail.co.uk
One lane reopens
A lane has reopened past the scene. Lanes 1 and 2 remain closed whilst recovery and clean up are ongoing. Lanes are still expected to remain closed for several hours.
19:05 birminghammail.co.uk
Closure to last several hours yet but queues have shortened
National Highways service providers continue to use a Hydroblaster to remove the spillage. The load from the HGV is also in the process of being removed and re-secured. Once this has been completed the HGV will leave the scene.
It is expected that clear up works will continue for several further hours. Drivers face three miles of queues and a 25 minute wait. 18:33 birminghammail.co.uk
M42 closure continues
Drivers are facing a 45 minute wait and some five miles of traffic as the clean up operation continues.
#M42 southbound between J5 #Solihull and J4 #Shirley[3][4][5] Clear up of paint on the road continues and will be for some time. Only one lane open.
Delays of approx 60 minutes from J6 #NEC[6] Follow @highwayswmids for updates. pic.twitter.com/HluXzwf3KY[7][8]
-- West Midlands Roads (@WMRoads) August 22, 2025[9]18:12 birminghammail.co.uk
Five miles of congestion as work continues to clean up paint on the motorway
The latest from Highways is: "Lanes 1,2 and 3 remain closed for ongoing clear up works on a large paint spillage following a collision. "A Hydroblaster continues to work at scene to remove the spillage, the road surface will then be assessed once this is completed.
"It is expected that clear up works will continue for several further hours." 17:06 birminghammail.co.uk
Delays of an hour on approach
3 (of 4) lanes remain closed on the #M42[10] southbound between J5 #Solihull[11] and J4 #Shirley[12] while work on clearing the paint continues Delays of over an hour on approach pic.twitter.com/tWrvv3WoYC[13]
-- National Highways: West Midlands (@HighwaysWMIDS) August 22, 2025[14]16:46 birminghammail.co.uk
Latest from traffic provider Inrix
Traffic monitoring service Inrix said: "Severe delays and three lanes closed due to spillage of paint and earlier accident on M42 Southbound before J4 A3400 Stratford Road (Shirley / Dorridge).
"Congestion to J7 (Coleshill). A specialist team is now on scene to assist with clearing the paint that was spilt from a lorry as a result of the multi vehicle collision earlier. "Just prior to 16:30 all traffic was held for a few minutes."
16:01 birminghammail.co.uk
Delays of 50 mins as specialist clean up crews make their way to scene
A specialist clean up crew is on their way to the scene to remove the large paint spillage. As of 4pm, three lanes remain closed and drivers are faced with 50 minute delays. 15:44 birminghammail.co.uk
Clean up underway
3 (of 4) lanes remain closed on the #M42 southbound between J5 #Solihull and J4 #Shirley[15][16][17]
The HGV has been moved and clear-up work has begun delays of over an hour on approach pic.twitter.com/vcFAMEhpNK[18]
-- National Highways: West Midlands (@HighwaysWMIDS) August 22, 2025[19]14:58 birminghammail.co.uk
Six miles of congestion
Drivers are stuck in six miles of congestion on the M42 Southbound as work gets underway to clear up a paint spillage. National Highways said: "Lanes 1,2 and 3 remain closed for clear up works following a collision which resulted in a paint spillage from a HGV.
"National Highways area team are on scene to clear the paint spillage and vehicle recovery are also on scene." 14:54 birminghammail.co.uk
Three out of four lanes are closed on the M42 Southbound
National Highways said: "3 (of 4) lanes are closed on the #M42[20] southbound in the #WestMidlands[21] between J5 #Solihull[22] and J4 #Shirley[23] due to a collision involving a HGV which has spilled paint across 3 lanes. "National Highways Traffic Officers are currently on scene dealing with traffic management."
14:38 birminghammail.co.uk
Expect severe delays
Drivers heading to Birmingham Airport should allow extra time after the closure of multiple lanes on the M42. Traffic provider Inrix said: "Severe delays and three lanes closed due to multi-vehicle accident and spillage of paint on M42 Southbound before J4 A3400 Stratford Road (Shirley / Dorridge). "Congestion to J7 (Coleshill).
The opposite side is also congested to J3A (M40 Interchange) due to the onlookers."
References
- ^ BirminghamLive WhatsApp (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ #UPDATE (twitter.com)
- ^ #M42 (twitter.com)
- ^ #Solihull (twitter.com)
- ^ #Shirley (twitter.com)
- ^ #NEC (twitter.com)
- ^ @highwayswmids (twitter.com)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/HluXzwf3KY (t.co)
- ^ August 22, 2025 (twitter.com)
- ^ #M42 (twitter.com)
- ^ #Solihull (twitter.com)
- ^ #Shirley (twitter.com)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/tWrvv3WoYC (t.co)
- ^ August 22, 2025 (twitter.com)
- ^ #M42 (twitter.com)
- ^ #Solihull (twitter.com)
- ^ #Shirley (twitter.com)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/vcFAMEhpNK (t.co)
- ^ August 22, 2025 (twitter.com)
- ^ #M42 (x.com)
- ^ #WestMidlands (x.com)
- ^ #Solihull (x.com)
- ^ #Shirley (x.com)