M5 Traffic Near Bristol Blocked Between J18 and J19, Police Shutdown Sparks Miles of Congestion

m5 traffic was halted in both directions near Bristol on Tuesday morning after a police incident between Junction 18 and Junction 19, producing several miles of congestion while emergency services dealt with the scene.

M5 Traffic Reopened After Earlier Southbound Halt

On Monday morning, southbound traffic on the motorway was temporarily stopped between Portishead and Clevedon. Traffic cameras showed police officers at the scene and queues built while vehicles were held. By 8: 20 am ET all lanes had been reopened, though major delays persisted on nearby routes before clearing by around 8: 50 am ET. Drivers approaching the city reported longer journey times on feeder roads during the disruption, with travel times on one southbound approach noted as around 15 minutes.

Closure Between J18 and J19 Creates Miles-Long Delays

The subsequent incident on Tuesday led to a full closure in both directions between J18 (Avonmouth) and J19 (Portbury). Emergency activity produced several miles of congestion on the carriageway, with roughly 3 miles of delays on the southbound side and about 2 miles to the north while traffic built on approaches either side of the closure. Traffic on the affected stretch was described as blocked in both directions as responders worked at the scene.

What Drivers Need To Know And Next Steps

Motorists planning to use the corridor should anticipate significant delays while the motorway remains affected and should consider alternative routes where possible. Traffic cameras and monitoring systems continued to show queueing traffic in the area during the periods of closure and temporary holds. Updates were flagged to follow as the situation developed; drivers are advised to check live traffic feeds and signs before setting out and to allow extra time for journeys through North Somerset.

The two incidents, the temporary southbound halt on Monday and the full closure on Tuesday between J18 and J19, underline ongoing disruption on the route. m5 traffic in the area remains subject to change as emergency services clear the scene and normal traffic flow is restored.