M5 Traffic Near Bristol Sparks Multi-Mile Delays After Police Stop Motorway
m5 traffic was stopped by police near Bristol in two separate incidents this week, with southbound carriageways temporarily halted between Portishead and Clevedon on March 16 and the motorway closed in both directions between J18 and J19 on March 17, producing several miles of congestion.
M5 Traffic Stopped Southbound Between Portishead and Clevedon
On Monday, March 16, police briefly halted southbound traffic between Portishead and Clevedon. Traffic cameras showed officers at the scene and queues forming on the carriageway. By 8: 20 am ET all lanes had reopened, though major delays persisted on the motorway after the stoppage.
Blockage Between J18 and J19 Triggers Multi-Mile Congestion
On Tuesday, March 17 the M5 was shut in both directions between Junction 18 (Avonmouth) and Junction 19 (Portbury) following a police incident. Emergency services responding to the event led to closures that produced several miles of congestion in both directions, with estimates of roughly 3 miles of delay on the southbound side and about 2 miles northbound.
Clearance Progress, Local Impact and Ongoing Delays
After the Monday incident, delays on that section of the M5 cleared by around 8: 50 am ET and traffic was described as easing. Local routes experienced knock-on effects: congestion increased on approaches into the city, including M32 and Newfoundland Way southbound, where travel time was noted as 15 minutes during the disruption. While lanes were reopened following the earlier stoppage, the separate closure between J18 and J19 created additional, broader disruption across the corridor.
Officials and responders remain on scene during active incidents to manage traffic and safety. The two events this week underscore how police-led motorway interventions can rapidly escalate travel times and produce multi-mile queues on principal routes in the Bristol area. Further updates will depend on official clearance and any subsequent road management measures.
