M11 traffic today: motorway closed after accident, junctions shut, Stansted Airport disruption - latest

Drivers were being advised to avoid the M11 near Stansted airport after two HGVs crashed.

A Royal Mail lorry and car transporter collided between junctions 10 and eight southbound at around 4.45am on Thursday (1 September), causing both to set on fire.

It will reopen at 5am on Friday, after the HGVs have also been removed.

Here is all you need to know:

Where is the M11 shut?

The motorway is closed on the southbound carriageway.

It is shut between J10 (for Duxford) and J8 (for Bishops Stortford).

What has caused M11 closure?

A serious crash involving a Royal Mail lorry and a car transporter happened on the motorway this morning.

One lorry went up in flames on the hard shoulder, while the other was down an embankment – leaving fire crews with limited access.

Was anyone hurt in the crash?

Both drivers suffered minor injuries.

What have the fire service said about the accident?

The hard shoulder fire was put out by the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) but firefighters continued to work on the other after it kept reigniting.

The service told the PA news agency the fire was under control and officers were focused on monitoring hot spots and any reignited flames.

The ECFRS said in a statement on Thursday morning: “Firefighters are working to extinguish a lorry fire.

“Due to the lorry being down an embankment with difficult access, crews are working to remove the lorry to extinguish the fire.

“Once removed from the embankment, crews will work to extinguish the fire.

“Crews are also working to recover another lorry and make the scene safe ready for resurfacing works to take place.”

A video taken by a passerby showed several burnt cars on the transporter.

It also showed smoke coming from the embankment on the side of the motorway.

How bad is the traffic?

Drivers were urged to continue to avoid the area, where fire crews were set to remain for several hours to make sure it is safe.

AA Traffic says on its traffic map: “Road closed and slow traffic due to recovery work, crash, a lorry and a car transporter involved and fuel spillage on M11 Southbound between J10 A505 (Duxford) and J8 A120 (Bishops Stortford).

“Southbound was closed at 4.45am with northbound re-opening at 7.25am.”

What has National Highways said?

National Highways South-East said a full closure was still in place, though trapped traffic had been released.

Some 250 metres of hard shoulder on the southbound carriageway was assessed and lanes one and two need resurfacing before the road can reopen, officials said.

It will reopen at 5am on Friday, after the HGVs have also been removed.

How long is the M11 and when did it open?

The motorway is approximatetly 55 miles in length.

It runs north from the North Circular Road (A406) in South Woodford to the A14, northwest of Cambridge.

The M11 was first proposed as early as 1911.

However construction did not begin until 1975 and it was finished in 1980.

The M11’s first stage - between junction 7 and junction 8 - opened in 1975.