Two-hour delays on M5 clear after flooding and crashes

Drivers faced two-hour delays on the M5 this afternoon (Friday, November 14) as heavy rain, a road defect and crashes caused chaos. All traffic on the M5 near Bristol was stopped after flooding across the motorway and a reported infrastructure defect. It follows earlier delays this afternoon caused by two separate crashes at Portishead.

National Highways said drivers were at a standstill on the northbound carriageway between junction 20 and 19 near Portishead, as of 3.36pm. It said: "Traffic is now stopped on #M5 #Somerset northbound between J20 (#Clevedon) & J19 (#Portishead) due to an infrastructure defect and also a separate collision. "Delays of 120 minutes on approach.

Please allow extra time for your journey." Traffic was also held just after 3.30pm for recovery from an earlier crash. Roads and traffic monitoring site, Inrix, reports: "All traffic being temporarily held and severe delays due to emergency repairs and accident on M5 Northbound from J20 B3133 Ettlingen Way (Clevedon) to J19 A369 Martcombe Road (Portishead).

"Congestion to J20 (Clevedon).Just before 15:30, traffic was held for recovery of the accident. The emergency repairs are still ongoing further back in the queues." It added: "Queueing traffic and one lane closed due to flooding on M5 Southbound after J19 A369 Martcombe Road (Portishead).Lane three (of three) is closed."

Emergency services have been contacted for further information.

Delays have now eased.