M40 closed after lorry fire sparked travel chaos with drivers trapped in delays up to 30 minutes
A LORRY blaze has sparked travel chaos as the M40 closes, with drivers trapped in long delays.
Motorists have been stuck at the wheel for half an hour between J16 for Hockley Heath and J15 for Warwick.
Two out of the three lanes were closed before it was shut completely, with traffic passing only in lane three.
Huge traffic delays are expected following the closure and congestion is backing on to J3A of the M42, National Highways West Midlands has warned.
The motorway maintenance service posted on X: "The M40 is now closed southbound, between J16, Hockley Heath, and J15, Warwick, due to the ongoing lorry fire."
A previous update stated: "M40 southbound, between J16, Hockley Heath, and J15, Warwick, lanes one and two of three are closed due to a lorry fire.
"Traffic is passing in lane three only.
"Currently delays in excess of 30 minutes on approach, with congestion back to the M42 J3A."
One frustrated driver claimed they were stuck behind the lorry for "two and a half hours."
At 3.50pm on X, they posted: "Not moved in two and a half hours, we're near the front but nothing looking imminent yet."
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