M4 and A46 traffic: Delays on motorway and commuter road after motorbike crash

Commuters face rush-hour chaos this morning as two roads are severely congested following a horror crash [1] as a motorcyclist was rushed to hospital. Part of the A46 is shut in both directions in Gloucestershire as the smash happened near Cold Ashton, Gloucestershire on the trunk road. As a result, the M4 is congested in both directions on the approach to the A46 link -- junction 18 for Bath -- and queues are expected to worsen during peak hours.

Avon and Somerset Police [2] and officers with the National Highways are at the scene of the collision, which also involved a car. Diversions are in place, but these have led to jams on local routes across Gloucestershire and Somerset.

09:17KEY EVENT

National Highways update

National Highways has confirmed a partial reopening. "Lane two has re-opened on the A46 southbound between M4 and #A420," the agency announced.

"The northbound carriageway remains closed between A420 (Cold Ashton) and M4 for recovery and clear up works following a collision involving a motorcycle and a car. Thanks for your patience."

08:33KEY EVENT

Police statement

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: "At 3.46am we received a report of a collision involving a car and a motorbike on the A46, near the transport depot, just south of junction 18 of the M4. "Emergency services attended and ambulance crews treated both drivers at the scene.

"The car driver sustained minor injuries and did not require hospital treatment while the motorcyclist was taken to hospital with injuries that are neither believed to be life-threatening nor life-changing. "The road remains closed while the road is cleared of debris."

07:19Sam Elliott-Gibbs

Where the A46 is shut

Where the problems are06:58Bradley Jolly

How important is this stretch of the A46?

This stretch of the A46 is used by commuters heading to and from Bath, Somerset. It takes drivers south from the M4 and the Cotswolds onto a bypass around Bath, and then joins the A4 for parts of Wiltshire, such as Chippenham.

Northbound drivers use the A46 to reach the M4 to traverse east or west across the UK, or to reach places like Chipping Sodbury and Yate in Gloucestershire. The closure will add significant time to journeys.

06:38Bradley Jolly

Diversion adding strain to the M4 this morning

The M4 is slow, particularly eastbound as drivers must use it as part of their diversion. Congestion is expected to worsen between junction 18 for Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire and Chippenham, Wiltshire.

Eastbound traffic currently is almost back to junction 19, which is the M32 link at Bristol.

06:34Bradley Jolly

Motorists on A46 northbound should also use A420

Motorists heading north on the A46 will find the road is closed between Cold Ashton in Gloucestershire and the M4 link. Instead, drivers should use the A420 eastbound to Chippenham, Wiltshire, to join the M4 westbound at junction 17 and rejoin the A46 at junction 18 near Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire. But the National Highways says: "If this closure impacts on your planned route, please allow extra journey time.

Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey. "Further information is available from National Highways by visiting our www.trafficengland.com website and travel apps, or via our regional 'X' feed."

06:30KEY EVENT

A46 diversion takes drivers onto the M4 - adding to the traffic

Drivers on the A46 southbound must leave at the M4 junction and use the motorway eastbound, further adding to the congestion on the road. Motorists should then exit at junction 17 for Chippenham, Wiltshire, and then take the A420 westbound which reaches the end of the A46 closure near Cold Ashton in Gloucestershire.

It is a lengthy retour though, so leave with plenty of time. A46 southbound diversion

Join the M4 eastbound from the A46 at J18.
Continue on the M4 eastbound to J17.
Exit at J17 and take the A350 southbound.
After 3.4 miles, drivers can pick up the A420 for onward travel.
After 5 miles, drivers can take the A4 westbound if heading towards Bath.

06:24KEY EVENT

A46 closed in both directions in Gloucestershire

The A46 is closed both ways between the M4 junction 18 and the A420 at Cold Ashton has been closed following a collision involving a motorcycle and a car. The incident is being led by Avon and Somerset Police, with National Highways Traffic Officers currently on scene to assist with traffic management.

Diversions are in place.

References

^ crash (www.mirror.co.uk)
^ Avon and Somerset Police (www.mirror.co.uk)