Drivers on the A19 are facing major disruption this morning after a serious collision forced the road to close in both directions near Middlesbrough. The closure is affecting commuters, freight and local traffic around Portrack and Billingham, with long queues building during the rush-hour period.
The crash happened shortly after 7am, and the A19 has been shut between the A1027 and the A1046 while emergency services and investigators work at the scene. Traffic officers are also on site assisting with traffic management and helping to keep diversion routes moving as volumes increase.
LIVE situation right now
• Road status: A19 closed both ways between the A1027 and the A1046 near Middlesbrough.
• Incident severity: Described as “severe”.
• Delays: Around 40 minutes against expected traffic on surrounding routes, with stop-start conditions spreading as drivers reroute.
• Clearance: Early estimates suggested the collision could clear around 9:45am to 10am, but a longer closure remains possible while investigation work continues.
Police are carrying out investigation work, and the road is expected to remain closed for several hours while teams complete essential checks and recovery. Plans have also been put in place to release traffic caught within the closure, which can take time when both carriageways are shut and slip roads are congested.
The #A19 in #CountyDurham is closed in both directions between the A1027 and the A1046 due to a serious collision.@ClevelandPolice are currently on scene. National Highways Traffic Officers are dealing with traffic management.
— National Highways: North-East (@HighwaysNEAST) February 9, 2026
Diversion: https://t.co/eWAir1m1NK pic.twitter.com/pKYPIjYLO2
For many drivers, the biggest issue is not just the closure itself but the knock-on effect across local links feeding into Teesside. When a strategic road like the A19 is blocked in both directions, traffic diverts onto the surrounding network in waves, often overloading roundabouts and short urban stretches that are not designed to carry motorway-level volumes.
If you are travelling in the area this morning, allow extra time even if your route does not include the closed section. Drivers heading to workplaces, hospitals, rail stations and schools may find journey times rising quickly as the morning progresses, especially at pinch points near major junctions.
Updates are typically issued as the incident response moves through distinct phases: emergency response, scene safety, investigation, vehicle recovery and then resurfacing or barrier checks if required. If any part of the carriageway needs repair or if evidence gathering is prolonged, closures can extend beyond initial projections.
The incident area lies on a route used heavily by HGVs and regional traffic, so even small delays can compound quickly. Expect heavier congestion on nearby A-roads as drivers seek alternatives, and be cautious at roundabouts and slip roads where lane changes and merging behaviour can become unpredictable.
Official traffic updates can be checked via the service operator, including National Highways, which provides incident status and diversion guidance. For more UK traffic and travel updates on Swikblog, you can also use our latest news hub.
Northbound diversion route
- Exit the northbound A19 and follow the exit slip until Portrack Interchange.
- Take the first exit onto the A1046 heading west, continuing straight over the next three roundabouts.
- Continue on the A1046 for around 200 metres from the exit of the third roundabout, then follow the one-way system and exit onto the A1305 heading north.
- At the next roundabout, take the third exit onto the north-westbound A177 for about one mile to the next roundabout.
- Take the fourth exit onto the A1027 and follow it for around 1.3 miles to the next roundabout.
- Take the second exit and continue for about half a mile to the entry slip road to rejoin the northbound A19.
Southbound diversion route
- Exit at the A19 and take the first exit onto the A1027.
- At the roundabout, take the third exit onto the A1027 Bypass Road.
- At the next roundabout, take the second exit onto New Road.
- Continue along New Road, then turn right onto the A1046.
- Head south on the A1046 and follow the roundabout exits to rejoin the A19 southbound.
If you are already in the queues, try to remain patient and avoid last-second lane changes. Keep an eye out for emergency vehicles and follow the directions of traffic officers where present. In stop-start conditions, rear-end shunts can happen quickly, especially when drivers are distracted by navigation changes or phone alerts.
For those planning travel later today, the safest approach is to check conditions before setting off and consider delaying non-essential journeys until the closure is lifted and the network stabilises. Even after the A19 reopens, it can take time for trapped traffic to clear and for diversion routes to return to normal flow.
We’ll keep this page updated with the key changes motorists need: when the closure begins to ease, whether lane restrictions remain after reopening, and how quickly journey times improve once traffic is released from the closure zone.
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