A significant collision occurred on a major motorway in the UK, leading to the closure of the roadway in both directions overnight, with the presence of an air ambulance at the site. The M27 was blocked in both directions between Southampton and Portsmouth, with emergency services from Hampshire responding between J11 and J12 in the early hours of Tuesday, January 6.
Subsequently, the motorway has been reopened for traffic. National Highways has confirmed that all lanes are now accessible for both eastbound and westbound travelers on the M27, originally closed between J11 in Southampton and J12 in Portsmouth.
According to a spokesperson from National Highways, all lanes are fully operational in both directions without any congestion in the area. However, a partial closure remains in place on the eastbound side of the M27 between J11 Southampton and J12 Portsmouth as the police conclude their investigation.
The National Highways spokesperson mentioned that two lanes on the eastbound carriageway are still shut, with one lane open for traffic. They anticipate normal traffic flow to resume between 5.45am and 6am on January 6, 2026, with congestion clearing by 6.30am.
While access for westbound traffic seems to be unrestricted based on information from the National Highways website, the closure status has not been independently confirmed due to the unavailability of traffic cameras and CCTV in the area.
National Highways reported the closure just before 3am, alerting motorists in the South East about the ongoing situation. They expect traffic conditions to normalize by 5am, although restoration times are subject to change due to the evolving nature of the incident. Diversions are in place, but specific details on the alternative routes are unclear.
The closure of the M27 in both directions between junctions J11 and J12 follows a serious crash, as confirmed by National Highways citing the involvement of Hampshire emergency services. First responders are currently present at the scene, with an air ambulance en route to the location.