M25 Traffic halted after lorry crash brings down power cables between J28 and J27
Part of the motorway in Essex was closed in both directions after a collision between two lorries that brought down an electricity pole and overhead cables, leaving 14 properties without power and triggering multi-agency responses. The disruption to m25 traffic forced staged reopenings and lane closures through the afternoon as power engineers and emergency services made the scene safe.
M25 Traffic between Junction 28 and Junction 27
The M25 was shut in both directions between Junction 28 for Brentwood and Junction 27 for the M11 after a lorry suffered a tyre blow-out and left the road shortly before 11: 00am on Tuesday 24 February. The vehicle collided with the central reservation, damaging a power cable and bringing down an electricity pole and overhead lines. The closure initially affected all lanes and created long delays for drivers on both carriageways.
Essex Police: collision details and injuries
Essex Police said the incident followed a tyre blow-out and that a second lorry involved sustained windscreen damage. The force stated no one was hurt and separately said no one was reported to be seriously injured. Officers closed the motorway while emergency services responded and asked motorists to avoid the area and use alternative routes.
UK Power Networks and impact on properties
Power infrastructure was directly affected when the collision brought down an electricity pole and overhead cables, leaving 14 properties without electricity. UK Power Networks engineers attended the exposed wires and made the damage safe, work that required their immediate attendance because the collision had affected a power line.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service response and timed updates
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service crews were on scene and issued a series of updates through the afternoon: at 11: 45am the M25 was closed anti-clockwise between J28 and J27 while crews worked; at 1: 30pm National Highways East said the motorway was closed in both directions and confirmed the need for engineers to make the scene safe; at 3: 55pm the clockwise carriage between J27 (M11) and J28 (Brentwood) had reopened; and at 4: 20pm the anti-clockwise section between J28 and J27 was reported open again, with lanes one and two (of four) still closed for ongoing clear-up work. The fire service asked drivers to remain in their vehicles while responders dealt with the incident and thanked motorists for their patience as it worked with Essex Police and National Highways East.
The service also listed its headquarters address at Kelvedon Park, Rivenhall, Witham, Essex CM8 3HB and reminded the public not to report emergencies to that HQ; to report an emergency, call 999. It noted that residents can request a fire report or make a Freedom of Information request.
Wider transport disruption, diversions and traffic management
The collision prompted traffic management and diversions, with a diversion routed to central London the A13 westbound. National Highways East and Highways England were involved in managing the closure, and lane restrictions were expected to remain for several hours while safety inspections and clear-up work continued. On the anti-clockwise carriage two of four lanes remained closed, while lanes three and four had reopened to traffic.
The incident coincided with separate rail disruption earlier in the morning, when a train struck an obstruction on the line in the Salfords area. The line towards Purley was blocked, affecting services to and from Gatwick Airport; trains were at risk of cancellation, delay by up to 40 minutes or revision, with disruption expected to continue until around 12: 00. The overlap underlined pressure on surface routes and public transport on the morning of the incident.
What makes this notable is the compound effect: a single tyre blow-out triggered a chain of consequences—collision with the central reservation, damaged power infrastructure, loss of electricity to 14 properties, and sustained lane and road closures that required specialist engineers and multi-agency coordination to resolve. The timing matters because the need for power engineers and safety inspections extended the motorway disruption across the day, keeping portions of the carriageway closed despite staged reopenings.
Emergency services asked motorists to avoid the area, seek alternative routes and check conditions before setting off while crews complete remaining clear-up and safety work.
