Lorry fire on M4 near Bath causes 90-minute delays
National Highways reports that the eastbound carriageway remains closed as drivers wait for full clearance by late evening.
By Julia Wang ·
Drivers on the M4 near Bath faced delays of up to 90 minutes on Monday, November 9, after a heavy goods vehicle caught fire. National Highways confirmed the incident caused severe congestion in both directions between Junction 18 and Junction 17. The fire started on the motorway, forcing authorities to hold traffic on the approach to the scene.
The eastbound carriageway has been closed for recovery work and to extinguish the blaze. Wiltshire fire and rescue services worked at the site to put out the fire. During the peak of the incident, congestion stretched for four or five miles on each side of the blockage. Inrix, a traffic monitoring service, noted that traffic was stationary in both lanes from the time the fire was reported at 12:40 p.m.
National Highways initially predicted that traffic would clear by 7:30 p.m. That estimate was later revised to 11:00 p.m. As of the latest update, officials expect the road to clear fully by 11:45 p.m. Drivers were advised to allow extra journey time or consider re-routing via the A46 towards Cold Ashton and then through the A420 to Chippenham.
The westbound carriageway reopened after the initial emergency response. However, the eastbound lane remains closed while recovery crews finish their work. One lane was previously blocked due to emergency repairs and the earlier lorry fire. Sensors indicated that traffic could pass the scene, but full normalcy has not yet returned.
The incident occurred on the stretch of the M4 connecting the A46 at Bath and Tormarton to the A350 at Chippenham. The fire service attended the scene to manage the HGV fire. National Highways urged motorists to plan ahead and delay their journeys if possible to avoid the long queues. The disruption affected local travel between Wiltshire and the Bath area.
Traffic conditions fluctuated throughout the day. At 5:18 p.m., maps showed heavy traffic with red and dark red indicators denoting slow or stationary vehicles. The delays persisted for more than two hours after the initial prediction of a 7:30 p.m. clearance. The closure remains in effect as of the evening, with drivers continuing to experience significant hold-ups on the approach to the incident site.
