Motorists in long delays after M54 lorry crash
Thursday 3rd February 2011, 12:09PM GMT.
Motorists in Shropshire faced hours of delays when recovery efforts over a crashed lorry ran into complications, ending with the M54 being closed and motorway and roads gridlocked.
Hundreds of drivers were caught up in the snarl-ups yesterday after the Highways Agency shut the motorway westbound from Junction 6, the turn-off to Wellington, and diverted traffic along the nearby B5061.
Side roads through the villages of Admaston and Allscott were also left at a standstill as drivers tried to find alternative routes.
Some motorists travelling from Telford to Shrewsbury who were caught up in the problems said their journeys took about two hours – about 90 minutes longer than normal.
The agency said it closed the westbound carriageway of the motorway when workers attempting to recover a stranded lorry which had left the road at about 9.30am ran into difficulties.
Initial reports claimed commuters could expect delays of about 10 minutes from about 2pm, but as the traffic began to build up during the afternoon the motorway ground to a halt at about 4pm, leading to longer delays.
A Highways Agency spokesman said: “The motorway was all clear by about 6.45pm, all the slip roads were open and everything was running fine.
“We closed the lane at about 9.30am yesterday because we were expecting the recovery to take place.
“There was an incident yesterday morning where a lorry left the carriageway but there were issues with getting it recovered.
“The lorry was supposed to be recovered after the morning rush hour.”
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Hundreds?
Thousands…
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Left work in Shifnal at 5.15pm last night joined M54 NO warning straight into grid lock finally got to Shrewsbury and to see Chineese state Circus at 7.45pm Show started at 8pm It was a Nightmare roads blocked people using hard shoulder as extra lane
A5 is a bad road when an accident happens and is unavoidable
But I and many others think last nights chaos could have been avoided with more planning better signs and more thought unless somebody knows different???
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Try listening to the radio, check the internet or get yourself a modern satnav with live traffic updates.
The problem was broadcast on BBC Radio Shropshire and BBC Radio 2 all afternoon, was detailed on the internet and was illustrated clearly on my modern satnav.
I avoided the gridlock with ease.
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Totally agree Jim. First notice was a flashing ’50′ at junction 6 on M54 when the traffic was already crawling.
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Were you walking? Cos i left Wolverhampton via J3 at 6 and got into Shrewsbury for 7.15. I agree it could have been much better planned though.
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Who on earth let them close the road at rush hour, the lorry was off the road when i passed at 8am in the morning. Could it not have been done later on in the evening ?
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