A STRETCH of the A34 just south of the county border is closed this morning due to a fire.
Drivers travelling from Berkshire towards Oxfordshire are having to reroute because of the closure, which is not expected to be lifted until this afternoon.
ALSO READ: Exhibition on West Way development progress
The road is shut near Newbury due to a huge lorry fire overnight, which Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to at about midnight.
The northbound road remains closed this morning due to emergency road repairs, between Speen and Chieveley - about eight miles south of Chilton.
Traffic shown on Google Maps at 8.55am
#A34 Northbound between #Speen and #Chieveley remains CLOSED and is likely to remain closed for the foreseeable future due to a HGV fire which has caused significant road surface damage. Please avoid the area. #Newbury @BBCBerkshire pic.twitter.com/XyoojOwZOk
— Highways England (@HighwaysEAST) March 5, 2020
ALSO READ: Motorcyclist who died after crash with metal barrier named
Highways England said the lorry was still 'smouldering' this morning and said there appeared to have been 'severe' damage to the carriageway.
Read our live travel updates here
A photo tweeted by the authority showed a huge mound of cardboard boxes in the road, some of which had been burnt to ash.
The authority said in a statement: "The northbound road closure is expected to remain in place until at least midday."
A diversion route is in place, signposted with solid black diamond symbols.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here