Major motorway CLOSED in both directions after crash as drivers face major delay
A MAJOR motorway shut down in both directions yesterday following a crash, leaving drivers facing long delays.
The M3 in Hampshire closed in both directions between J9 near Winchester and J8 near Basingstoke from 7.30pm on Saturday.
National Highways said the closure was because of a "multi-vehicle collision".
One person was hospitalised and three others were injured as ambulances arrived from 7.10pm.
Motorists were diverted and National Highways warned drivers to expect long delays.
Diversions were put in place to avoid the closures via the A34 and A303.
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It is understood that the collision was caused by a driver travelling the wrong way along the carriageway.
However, National Highways announced overnight that the road had been reopened, with traffic resuming at 4am this morning.
It comes after the M5 had to be shut after a huge lorry caught fire.
Drivers were seen abandoning their cars in the middle of the road, with two of three lanes of the motorway closed between junction 22 at Edithmead and junction 23 at Dunball.
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National Highways South West warned motorists to remain in their vehicles for safety as drivers watched thick black smoke billow into the sky.
The northbound carriageway has since reopened, but the motorway was still blocked southbound while Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue tried to put out the blaze.
In an update overnight National Highways revealed 2 out of 3 lanes remained closed on the M5 south between Junction 22 and 23.
Emergency resurfacing works were still yet to take place as a 5-mile tailback delayed drivers for an hour.
Earlier on Friday some abandoned their cars to play football on the carriageway in 9-hour queues.
Half-term in England starts this weekend until November 1, with millions of Brits going away for a break - including those hoping to get a head start on the traffic Friday morning.
FED-UP
Fed-up families were spotted getting up and walking around to stretch their legs with their pets.
Heart-stopping footage shows a man inside the lorry cab as the flames erupt while the HGV is parked up on the hard shoulder.
He then leaps out and jogs to safety as the fire grows bigger.
Kelly Jakeman, 29, an admin assistant, from Stourbridge, Birmingham, was stuck from 9.30am.
She said: "There were loads of different groups playing football, and it was actually quite nice to see.
"There were a few mini-games going across two miles of road."
Writing on Facebook, another fed-up motorist said: "Avoid M5 south at a standstill motorway shut both sides, people out their cars. All engines off."
Meanwhile, decking company SpecDeck posted: "Due to the M5 being shut both ways due to a fire, we have 4 teams stuck on the motorway, unable to reach their destinations for work today.
"Check your route of travel today before making a journey."
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Motorist David Trevelyan described four-mile queues in a Facebook post, alongside photos of the gridlock and a 'picnic' he was having.
He said: "Looks like a day out on the M5 4 mile tailback and at a standstill, so let's get the kettle on. Time for a picnic on The M5."