Lane 3 is closed following an incident this morning in which an HGV travelling northbound struck the central reservation causing extensive damage.
The Highways Agency is working hard to reopen the carriageway as soon as it is safe to do so and repairs are currently being carried out to the damaged central reservation. Due to the extent of the damage, the repairs, and delays, may continue until this evening’s rush hour.
Drivers, particularly those heading north towards Stansted Airport are advised to check traffic conditions before they set out, leave extra time for their journeys and if possible to find an alternative route.
The Highways Agency's Regional Control Centre at South Mimms has set electronic signs across the motorway network to warn drivers of the delays.
The Highways Agency provides live traffic information via its website www.highways.gov.uk/traffic <http://www.highways.gov.uk/traffic> , local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile platforms, such as the iPhone. Local Twitter services are also available at @HAtraffic_wmids .
Providing they can do so safely, road users can also call the Highways Agency Information Line (0300 123 5000) to keep up to date with road conditions.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England’s motorways and other strategic roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.
2. Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and other strategic roads is available:
- From the web at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic or www.highways.gov.uk/mobile if using a phone or mobile device.
- By phone from the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000 at any time. (Calls to 0300 numbers will cost no more than 5p per minute from a standard BT residential landline. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary, but will be no more than a standard geographic call and will be included in all inclusive minutes and discount schemes). Make sure it’s safe and legal before you call. Before using any mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency.
- On an iPhone app which will automatically select the region you are in. Free to download from the iTunes store or search for Highways Agency on your device.
- From Twitter – there are eight feeds with live traffic information provided by region. For information on roads in the East Midlands follow us at @HAtraffic_emids or for the full index visit www.highways.gov.uk/twitter.
3. Receive our national and regional press releases by RSS and get the latest headlines straight to your desktop the moment we publish them to our website. Choose to receive a national press feed or one of our regionalised feeds - go to www.highways.gov.uk/rssnews for more information.
Issued by the Highways Agency. For further information please contact Jessica Brown on 0121 687 4072 or Jane Manning on 01306 878110. Media enquiries out of hours should be made to the Highways Agency National Press Office (24hrs) on 020 7081 7443.
Issued on behalf of the Highways Agency by GNN East. For further information please call 01223 372782 / 83 / 84.