M25 Junction 31 Crash Causes Gridlock and Bus Disruptions

A vehicle crash and diesel spill at junction 31 of the M25 near Lakeside on July 16, 2026, triggered severe traffic gridlock across Thurrock. National Highways closed the clockwise entry slip road and one lane for emergency resurfacing, initially estimating a 4:30 p.m. reopening. However, high road temperatures delayed the curing of resurfacing materials, pushing the reopening back to 7:00 p.m., and eventually to 8:42 p.m.

The closure caused congestion to expand from four miles to nine miles, with some drivers facing delays of over six hours. Gridlock extended to the A13 Londonbound and affected surrounding areas including Grays, Tilbury, Purfleet, and Stifford, with queues stretching back toward the Swanley Interchange at junction 3.

Public transport was heavily impacted as Ensign Bus Co suspended routes 44 and X80 and reported severe disruptions to most other services except route 99. National Highways apologized for the distress caused to passengers and committed to a full internal review of the incident management.