A major stretch of the A2 Old Kent Road has been closed in both directions following a serious crash late last night.
The road, which runs through Bermondsey, was shut between Glengall Road and the Canal Bridge Interchange at around 11pm on Tuesday (27 August). It remained closed throughout the night and into Wednesday morning while police carried out an investigation.
What We Know So Far
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11pm (Tuesday): Crash reported near the Asda superstore at the junction with Malt Street. Emergency services attended and the A2 was sealed off.
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Overnight: Social media users described a “large police presence” with “more officers than seen in 30 years” in the area.
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7.30am: Police confirmed the closure was still in place for collision investigation work.
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8.06am: BBC London confirmed the crash site was near Asda.
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8.21am: Police announced a formal investigation is underway to establish the circumstances.
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8.36am: TfL said bus routes 21, 53, 78, 172 and 453 were being diverted.
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8.55am: First photo from the scene shared by local resident Paula Griffin shows police vehicles at the cordon.
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9.17am: The A2 Old Kent Road remains closed in both directions as the investigation continues.
Local Impact
The closure has caused major disruption for commuters this morning, with long delays reported on diversion routes through Southwark and Bermondsey.
Transport for London confirmed several bus routes were affected, with passengers advised to check live updates before travelling.
Witnesses Speak
One resident told social media:
“Haven’t seen this many police down the Old Kent Road in more than 30 years living here.”
Ongoing Investigation
Police have not yet confirmed the number of vehicles involved or whether there were any injuries. Collision investigators remain at the scene.
More updates are expected throughout the day.
