Motorists are facing delays of up to an hour and a half after a four-car collision on the M25.
National Highways said traffic was temporarily stopped anti-clockwise within Junction 17 (Maple Cross) at about 5.40am this morning after a ‘multi-vehicle’ crash.
Emergency services were called to the scene, where a car and a lorry had smashed, the police said.
No injuries were reported, Hertfordshire Constabulary told Metro.
Just before 7.15am, National Highways said the road had reopened, but there is an hour and a half of delays and more than seven miles of congestion in the area.
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It added that drivers need to allow for extra time for their journeys this morning.
Back-to-school traffic is also adding to the delays, according to Inrix, which analyses traffic data.
Elsewhere, two lanes of four were closed on the M25 clockwise in Kent between Junction 5 and Junction 6 due to another crash.
One lane remains closed with long delays, and the road is being cleared after a tree fell on it.
National Highways said on X: Only 1 lane (of 4) is now closed on the M25 clockwise in Kent between J5 (A21, Chipstead) and J6 (Godstone) following a collision. A tree surgeon is now en-route to clear a part-fallen tree. There’s a 90 min delay on the M25 clockwise and 70 mins on M26 westbound.’
A van has reportedly stopped and a car is off the road in the bushes, Inrix said.
Congestion is backing up until the M20 in the east and the Dartford Crossing in the north, with queueing traffic for 13 miles.
Metro is contacting Kent Police and South East Coast Ambulance Service for further comment.
Meanwhile, some London Underground lines have been hit by severe delays, including the Elizabeth line.
The Elizabeth line is reporting severe delays between Whitechapel and Shenfield in both directions because of a track fault at Harold Wood.
The Northern line has severe delays between Colindale and Camden Town due to an emergency incident, while the stretch between Edgware and Colindale is suspended.
On Monday, passengers on the Jubilee line were trapped inside a carriage for hours after trains broke down.
Footage showed people crammed in the train during the evening rush hour, waiting to be evacuated.
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