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M5 near Bristol shut for hours by overturned lorry | M5 near Bristol shut for hours by overturned lorry |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A lorry carrying pallets of paper struck the central reservation and overturned forcing the closure of the M5 motorway. | |
The crash, between the junctions for Portishead and Clevedon, at about 07:00 BST, caused a diesel spillage on the road. | |
The driver was taken to Frenchay Hospital with head injuries which are not believed to be life threatening. | The driver was taken to Frenchay Hospital with head injuries which are not believed to be life threatening. |
Two lanes northbound will remain closed until resurfacing work has taken place. | |
Both carriageways were partially reopened earlier. Long traffic queues have been reported throughout the day. | |
Driver 'patience' | |
The Highways Agency said no full closure of the motorway would be required overnight, but some lanes may need to be closed overnight for emergency resurfacing. | |
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: "Closing a motorway is never a decision we take lightly and we fully recognise the impact this has on motorists as well as the communities affected by diversions. | |
"However, on this occasion we had no other option and we are grateful for the understanding and patience shown by drivers and their passengers today." | |
Earlier, one of the motorists stuck in the queuing traffic told BBC Radio Bristol that people had been getting out of their cars. | |
Steve Ashworth said: "Everyone's out and about on the motorway. It's quite a typical British sort of thing - bit of a Dunkirk spirit. | Steve Ashworth said: "Everyone's out and about on the motorway. It's quite a typical British sort of thing - bit of a Dunkirk spirit. |
"People are sharing coffee, walking their dogs and just wandering around. | "People are sharing coffee, walking their dogs and just wandering around. |
"We are just waiting to see what happens. I think we could be here for some time." | "We are just waiting to see what happens. I think we could be here for some time." |