A serious multi-vehicle collision has thrown the M5 motorway into chaos during Wednesday morning's rush hour, creating massive delays for commuters across the West Midlands.
The significant incident occurred on the northbound carriageway between Junction 4 for Bromsgrove and Junction 3 for Quinton, prompting emergency services to close multiple lanes during the critical morning travel period.
Traffic Gridlock and Extensive Queues
Motorists faced hour-long delays as traffic backed up for miles, with congestion stretching beyond Junction 4A for the M42. The southbound carriageway also experienced slowdowns as drivers slowed to observe the ongoing incident on the opposite side.
National Highways confirmed the multi-vehicle collision and warned travellers to expect considerable disruption throughout the morning. Traffic monitoring systems showed stationary vehicles and crawling traffic across affected sections of the motorway.
Emergency Response and Recovery
West Midlands Ambulance Service, along with police and fire crews, were dispatched to the scene to manage the incident and provide medical assistance to those involved. Recovery operations were underway to clear the damaged vehicles and reopen closed lanes.
Drivers were being diverted via alternative routes, but local roads around Bromsgrove and Halesowen were experiencing increased traffic as motorists sought ways around the blockage.
Travel Advisory
Commuters are advised to allow extra journey time if travelling in the region or consider using alternative routes where possible. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining safe stopping distances, particularly during busy morning traffic conditions.
Live traffic updates continue to be available through National Highways and local traffic information services as the situation develops.
