M3 closed near Bagshot after HGVs crash and spill fuel — diversion route in place
An early-morning collision on the m3 near Bagshot has forced the eastbound carriageway to close after two HGVs struck a gantry and ruptured a fuel tank, spilling diesel across the road. Emergency services remain at the scene, debris has left the carriageway unsafe for traffic, and health professionals are checking the drivers of both vehicles. National Highways has warned of long delays and implemented a detailed diversion while recovery and a fuel cleanup are arranged.
Why this matters now
The closure affects a key stretch of motorway that connects traffic onto the orbital M25, creating immediate knock-on effects for commuters and freight. National Highways said there were long delays of up to 30 minutes, with a diversion route in place, and two lanes of the M25 junction have been reopened to allow some traffic to leave the motorway. Delays on approaches to the m3 have built up while emergency crews work to clear debris and contain the diesel spill.
M3 disruption: causes, implications and regional ripple effects
The motorway eastbound is shut between Junction 3, near Bagshot, and Junction 2 at the M25 after one vehicle struck a gantry and the other suffered a ruptured fuel tank. The spilled diesel has made the carriageway unsafe and left significant debris, prompting closures that are expected to remain in place for some time. The m3 is shut eastbound between Junction 3 (Bagshot) and Junction 2 (M25), forcing planners to reroute traffic onto local roads and the orbital network.
The planned diversion sends motorists off the motorway at Junction 3 onto the A322, then onto the A30 through Sunningdale and Egham before joining the M25 at Junction 13 and rejoining the M3 at Junction 12. That route is already being used to relieve pressure on the closed section, but the additional volumes are likely to increase congestion on parallel corridors and on the M25 approaches until recovery and clearance are completed.
Emergency response and expert perspectives
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service confirmed its crews were responding and set out the operational position: “We received a call at 4am to a road traffic collision on the M3 between junction 3 (Lightwater) and Junction 2 (Thorpe) – as you go onto the M25. We have four fire engines in attendance. As a result the eastbound carriageways are closed. This is causing significant delays and traffic – we are expecting closures to be in place for some time due to debris. Please avoid the M3 eastbound until further notice. Both drivers are out of the vehicles and are being checked over by health partner colleagues. “
Other emergency services at the scene include Surrey Police and South East Coast Ambulance Service, working alongside highways crews and recovery teams. National Highways has provided operational instructions and the diversion routing and reopened lanes on the M25 junction to manage traffic flow while cleanup and vehicle recovery are arranged.
The immediate operational priorities are securing the scene, containing the diesel spill, removing debris and safely recovering the vehicles. With the eastbound carriageway closed between Junction 3 and Junction 2, local routes and junctions on the orbital network are likely to face sustained pressure until the site is declared clear and lanes are reopened.
As cleanup and recovery efforts continue, motorists are being urged to follow the signed diversion and avoid the affected stretch. How long the closure will remain in place depends on the pace of debris clearance and fuel containment — but the disruption underscores how a single collision can cascade across a region’s road network and freight movements. Will the response and diversion strategy restore normal flows quickly enough to prevent wider disruption to the surrounding motorway grid and local roads as traffic re-routes around the incident on the m3?
