Drivers were left stuck in their cars overnight in freezing conditions after a serious crash closed the M2.
A lorry collided with a pedestrian on the eastbound carriage of the key Kent motorway shortly after 8.30pm on Wednesday.
A 10.5-mile stretch of the M2 was shut between Junction 5 near Stockbury and Junction 6 at Faversham around 8.40pm on Wednesday, National Highways announced.
The agency described the crash as “serious”, adding: ”All emergency services are on scene.”
It was not until around five hours later, shortly after 1am on Thursday, that traffic within the closure area began to be released from the rear by traffic officers and police.
The #M2 #Kent eastbound remains closed between J5 #Sittingbourne & J6 #Faversham following a serious collision.
— National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) November 21, 2024
1 (of 2) lanes is closed westbound between J6 #Faversham & J5 #Sittingbourne
Closures will remain in place until at least midday.
Diversion: https://t.co/znksmkfA4k pic.twitter.com/7dUPyVfHVU
Hundreds of drivers are understood to have been caught up in the closure, as temperatures dropped to around freezing in Kent on what is believed to have been the coldest night of the year so far.
By shortly after 2am, all traffic that had been trapped there had at last been released, said National Highways.
The eastbound carriageway remained totally shut as of 10.30am on Thursday, while one of two westbound lanes were also shut.
Closures were set to remain in place until at least midday, said National Highways, as investigations are carried out by police and the scene is cleared.
A diversion route was in place.
Kent Police and South East Coast Ambulance Service have been approached by The Standard.
It comes as snow and ice are causing chaos across Britain with parts of the South-West facing huge disruption amid nationwide weather warnings.
The Met Office has issued yellow alerts for much of the country. Devon remains under warning until 3pm as heavy snow blankets its central and eastern regions.
Major transport routes ground to a halt on Thursday morning. The A30 linking Launceston to Honiton was impassable in sections. All trains between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton through Crediton are cancelled. Council gritters are battling to keep main roads open.
It comes as snow and ice are causing chaos across Britain with parts of the South-West facing huge disruption amid nationwide weather warnings.
The Met Office has issued yellow alerts for much of the country. Devon remains under warning until 3pm as heavy snow blankets its central and eastern regions.
Major transport routes ground to a halt on Thursday morning. The A30 linking Launceston to Honiton was impassable in sections. All trains between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton through Crediton are cancelled. Council gritters are battling to keep main roads open.
Heavy snowfall of up to 15cm is forecast for Dartmoor and Exmoor. The south Devon coast faces additional flood alerts from Starpoint to Dawlish Warren with strong winds threatening 2-metre waves.
