M25 slip road closed for three hours after van fire at Thorpe interchange
Traffic backed up three miles towards Staines and Wisley on 12 August 2026
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A van fire on the M3 exit slip road from the M25 at the Thorpe interchange forced the closure of all lanes for three hours on 12 August 2026. The incident, reported at 12:04, caused three miles of congestion and delays of over 30 minutes for drivers heading towards Junction 10 at Wisley and Junction 13 at Staines.
Surrey Police confirmed that no injuries were recorded. A spokesperson for the force said the incident was passed to Highways England to manage vehicle recovery. The fire was extinguished, and lanes were gradually reopened by mid-afternoon.
M25 near Redhill closed after car breaks down on carriageway
Drivers faced delays of up to 90 minutes as Highways England cleared the vehicle from the clockwise lanes
Impact on local routes
The closure affected drivers travelling from the M25 onto the M3 slip road, a key route for commuters and visitors to Thorpe Park. Traffic backed up towards the M25, with delays spreading to nearby junctions. Highways England did not specify when the slip road would fully reopen, but normal traffic flow resumed by 15:00.
Local residents and drivers reported long queues on social media, with some diverting through Chertsey and Addlestone to avoid the congestion. No diversions were officially advised by Highways England or Surrey Police.
M25 crash closes three lanes near Barnet, 90-minute delays for drivers
National Highways confirms the incident between junctions 23 and 24, with queues stretching back to Potters Bar
What happens next
Highways England will investigate the cause of the fire as part of routine incident reporting. The vehicle has been removed from the slip road, and no structural damage to the road surface was reported. Drivers are advised to check traffic updates before travelling through the Thorpe interchange in the coming days.
Questions this report answers
+How long were the delays on the M25 after the van fire?
Delays of over 30 minutes were reported, with traffic backing up three miles towards Junction 10 at Wisley and Junction 13 at Staines. The incident caused all lanes to be temporarily stopped while emergency services responded.
+Were there any injuries in the van fire at Thorpe interchange?
Surrey Police confirmed that no injuries were recorded. The incident was handed to Highways England for vehicle recovery after the fire was extinguished.
+What caused the traffic disruption near Thorpe Park on 12 August?
A van fire on the M3 exit slip road from the M25 at Thorpe interchange caused the disruption. The incident led to three miles of congestion and delays of over 30 minutes for drivers.
+When did the M25 slip road reopen after the van fire?
The slip road was gradually reopened by mid-afternoon on 12 August 2026. Normal traffic flow resumed by 15:00, though no official reopening time was confirmed by Highways England.
WE FILE
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The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
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