Sinkholes Spark M25 Mayhem After Kent Floods
Commuters face serious gridlock this morning as two sinkholes slam the M25 after overnight flash floods battered Kent. The motorway shut both ways between junctions 4 and 5 earlier, with police ordering drivers to steer clear.
M25 Reopens but Trouble Continues
The affected stretch has reopened with one lane closed each way. But that’s not all – a fresh police incident has shut the M25 in both directions from junction 3 (Swanley Interchange) to junction 4 (Orpington), leaving tailbacks stretching back to junction 2 (Darenth Interchange) on the clockwise side.
Sinkholes Wreck Roads After Torrential Rain
Kent Police revealed the two sinkholes were uncovered in the early hours after probing a single vehicle crash. Highways England responded immediately, slapping an emergency closure on both carriageways. In just five hours, the region saw two months’ worth of rain, triggering the sinkholes.
Massive Delays and Diversions Underway
- M25 remains closed both ways between J3 and J4 near Swanley.
- Delays of at least 45 minutes expected.
- Drivers urged to think twice about travelling this way unless essential.
- Alternative routes set via the M26 and local roads.
Anti-clockwise drivers should follow the hollow black circle symbol: exit at J4, take M25 Link to A21, then A224 north towards Goddington, join A20 at Footscray, and rejoin M25 at J3.
Clockwise traffic must reverse that route via the hollow black triangle symbol: from J3 take A20 west to Footscray, then A224 south to Coddington, and M25 Link back to J4.
Expect chaos to continue as emergency crews battle the aftermath. More updates to follow.
