BRISTOL UNITED KINGDOM, A major police-led incident brought traffic on the M5 to a complete standstill on Tuesday, causing widespread disruption and long delays across the Bristol area.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed the closure was due to a welfare concern on the Avonmouth Bridge, with the motorway shut in both directions between Junction 19 and Junction 18. All traffic was stopped just before 12:15 p.m., and congestion quickly built up across surrounding routes.
Traffic monitoring service Inrix reported that vehicles were held stationary along the affected stretch for several hours. The closure led to gridlock across parts of Bristol, with many motorists left trapped in long queues as diversions struggled to cope with the volume.
Police said the incident was brought to a conclusion at approximately 5:30 p.m. GMT, more than five hours after it began. While the motorway has since reopened, authorities warned that significant delays continued into the evening as traffic slowly cleared.
No further details about the welfare concern have been released. Police thanked drivers for their patience and cooperation while emergency services worked to resolve the situation safely.
The incident highlighted the far-reaching impact of major road closures on the region’s transport network, particularly during peak travel hours.
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