Emergency M54 repair work completed after huge lorry fire damaged road surface

Repairs have been completed on the M54 after a major fire damaged the road surface.

Traffic was brought to a standstill on Tuesday evening (August 11) after the incident between Junction 3 and 4 of the westbound stretch of the M54.

A lorry carrying straw bales caught fire, with the load collapsing onto the road and blocking the carriageway with a raging inferno.

Multiple fire crews were sent to the scene and the road was closed between the Albrighton and Shifnal junctions.

One lane of the road reopened the following morning at 10am, but the second lane remained shut due to the need for emergency repairs.

Resurfacing was carried out from 10.30pm on Wednesday, and the road was fully reopened from 6am on Thursday.

A spokesman for National Highway West Midlands said: “The M54 westbound was closed between Junction 3 at Cosford and Junction 4 at Telford on Tuesday evening after a HGV carrying hay caught fire.

“National Highways traffic officers assisted Shropshire Fire Service as they worked overnight to tackle the blaze.

“One lane reopened just after 10am on Wednesday once the fire had been extinguished and following recovery of the vehicle.

“However, the second lane remained closed throughout Wednesday for safety reasons as emergency repairs were needed to the barrier which had been damaged in the fire.

“Resurfacing of the road was also needed due to fire damage, which was carried out from 10.30pm last night while traffic volumes were lower. The road fully reopened at 6am this morning.”