M25 Traffic Disruptions Hit Lakeside and Purfleet Areas

Traffic disruptions affected the M25 motorway near the Dartford Crossing over two consecutive days in July 2026. On July 23, a stalled car on the clockwise carriageway of the QE2 Bridge created heavy congestion. The breakdown occurred just after junction 31 at West Thurrock and Purfleet, causing delays of up to 30 minutes with traffic backing up two miles to junction 30 at Lakeside.

Disruptions continued on July 24 when the Government of the United Kingdom initiated emergency resurfacing work to repair damage to the carriageway surface. This required the closure of the anticlockwise exit slip at junction 30 for the A13, preventing access from both the main motorway exit and the junction 31 link road.

The closures forced motorists to continue past the junction, leading to significant queues on the M25 anticlockwise and on A13 approaches to Lakeside. Authorities advised drivers traveling toward Thurrock, Lakeside, or Purfleet to seek alternative routes and allow extra travel time.