Video by Alan Sharp/ @asharp01
MAJOR congestion on the M40 has finally cleared, almost 12 hours after a lorry smashed through the central barrier.
Four lanes across both carriageways were initially shut after the two-vehicle crash, which happened near junction 9 at Bicester shortly after 6am.
At one point, southbound traffic was backing up all the way from junction 9 to junction 11 at Banbury.
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Congestion was still severe late this afternoon, due to emergency repairs to the barrier, but all lanes have since reopened.
Oxfordshire County Council advised drivers to expect 'lengthy residual delays' during the evening rush hour, but the road is now clear.
All lanes have now reopened on the #M40 northbound past junction 9. Lengthy residual delays will remain and may take longer to clear due to peak rush hour. The #A34 northbound approaching the #M40 is also congested as a result #Oxontravel pic.twitter.com/xEWF01PRvz
— Oxfordshire County (@OxfordshireCC) June 12, 2019
Traffic was also congested on the A34 on the approach to the Wendlebury Interchange.
Traffic shown on Google Maps at 3.30pm
Two people were treated for minor injuries following the crash, which involved a car and a lorry, which left the latter 'resting' on the central reservation.
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A 'soft closure' was initially in place on the southbound carriageway at junction 10 down to junction 9.
#M40 J10 to J9 there is now just a lane one closure in place on the southbound and lanes one and two closed on the northbound for emergency repairs after the road traffic collision. #Bicester https://t.co/7Vj2qT4y1J
— Highways England (@HighwaysEAST) June 12, 2019
Police and ambulance crews were on the scene following the collision, and emergency repairs were carried out.
The lorry driver and one person who was in the car have both been treated, although neither were seriously injured.
❗️ROAD CLOSURE❗️
— Thames Valley Police (@ThamesVP) June 12, 2019
Officers are at the scene of a road traffic collision on the M40 between junctions 9 and 10.
Lanes two and three of both northbound and southbound carriageways are closed while recovery for the vehicles is underway.
Motorists are asked to avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/uuoj7J6C7I
South Central Ambulance Service confirmed it received 'multiple calls' at about 6.20am reporting the crash.
Two ambulances attended the incident and crews cleared the lorry driver at the scene, while the other patient has already left the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
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Police previously warned drivers to avoid the area while the lorry was recovered.
The county council's traffic sensors detected 'three to four hour' queues between junctions 11 and 10, at the height of the disruption.
The southbound #M40 is still heavily congested following a collision near J9. Traffic sensors showing queues from J11-J10 as long as 3 to 4 hours. @HighwaysEAST suggest strategic diversion is in place from J10, From the #A43 follow the hollow triangle southwards. #OxonTravel pic.twitter.com/cxg507QCue
— Oxfordshire County (@OxfordshireCC) June 12, 2019
A diversion was in place and drivers were urged to use alternative routes.
Check our live traffic feed for the latest travel information.
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