M25 Traffic: Part of motorway still shut after lorry crash brings down power cables
A lorry suffered a tyre blow-out and crashed on the M25 in Essex, bringing down an electricity pole and overhead cables and forcing prolonged closures; the incident has left 14 properties without power and prompted overnight repair work that will continue. The disruption has produced extended m25 traffic delays around junctions 27 and 28, and engineers and emergency services remain on scene to make the route safe.
M25 Traffic in Essex: lane closures after lorry crash
The motorway was closed in both directions between junction 28 for Brentwood and junction 27 for the M11 after the collision on Tuesday; the immediate cause was a tyre blow-out on the lorry, which led to the vehicle striking an electricity pole and bringing down overhead cables. Resurfacing work on the carriageway has finished, but one lane remains closed for barrier repairs and clear-up operations.
Junctions 27 and 28: closure and reopening timeline
Updates from emergency responders set out a changing picture through the day: at 11: 45am the M25 was closed anti-clockwise between J28 (Brentwood) and J27 (M11); by 1: 30pm National Highways East advised the M25 was closed in both directions between the same junctions. The clockwise side reopened at 3: 55pm, and at 4: 20pm the anti-clockwise carriageway was reopened though lanes one and two of four remained closed for ongoing clear-up work.
Power cables and UK Power Networks: damage, outages and overnight work
An electricity pole and overhead cables were brought down in the collision, leaving 14 properties without power. UK Power Networks engineers attended the exposed wires and carried out re-hanging work overnight; that work will continue on Wednesday night and the road is scheduled to be shut in both directions again tonight so engineers can finish the repairs.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and Essex Police on scene
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service crews remained at the scene after the road traffic collision, asking drivers to remain in their vehicles while responders worked to make the area safe. Essex Police also urged motorists to avoid the area and use alternative routes, warning lane closures were expected to remain in place for several hours. The fire service thanked motorists for their patience while it worked with Essex Police and National Highways East.
The fire service reiterated safety contacts and services: its headquarters is at Kelvedon Park, Rivenhall, Witham, Essex CM8 3HB; members of the public should call 999 to report emergencies and can request a fire report or submit Freedom of Information requests through the service’s established channels.
Related transport disruption: Piccadilly line delays and A40 Westway works
The crash compounded wider travel disruption across the region. On the rail and Tube network there were severe delays between Hatton Cross and the Heathrow Terminals on the Piccadilly line, with minor delays on the rest of the line caused by train cancellations. A separate rail bulletin said services between King’s Lynn, Ely, Cambridge, Royston, Letchworth Garden City, Peterborough and London King’s Cross were recovering after overrunning engineering works at Hitchin, though some trains may still be cancelled or delayed by up to 30 minutes and disruption was expected to continue until 09: 15am.
There was no service between East Croydon and Beckenham Junction, Elmers End or New Addington; replacement buses were running but would not serve Lebanon Road. Cutty Sark DLR station was closed while all four escalators were being replaced, with passengers advised to use Greenwich DLR station. Eastbound trains will not call at Barons Court until Sunday June 7. The Woolwich Ferry was operating on time.
Roadworks on the eastbound A40 Westway — closed between Westway Roundabout and Marylebone Flyover for joint replacement works — prompted further routing advice for motorists; transport authorities said traffic was flowing well on diversion routes but drivers should allow extra time for journeys.
What makes this notable is the cascade of effects from a single mechanical failure: a tyre blow-out led to a lorry crash that downed power infrastructure, triggered multi-agency safety operations and overnight engineering work, and fed into a broader pattern of disruption across road and rail networks. With engineers from UK Power Networks and crews from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and Essex Police engaged at the scene, recovery is ongoing and drivers are advised to plan for continued delays.
Local motorists have been urged to avoid the area and use alternative routes while repairs continue; m25 traffic remains affected around junctions 27 and 28 as barrier and cable repairs proceed.
