A major stretch of the M11 has been shut southbound near Harlow after a vehicle overturned in the early hours of Wednesday, triggering a fast-growing tailback that drivers described as “at a standstill” in places. The closure hits a critical corridor between Essex and the M25, and with recovery and investigation work under way, traffic is expected to remain difficult for much of the morning.

National Highways said the motorway is closed southbound between Junction 7 and Junction 6 following a serious collision, with emergency services at the scene. Drivers have been warned the closure could last for several hours while a police investigation takes place and the vehicle is recovered safely. For the latest official status updates, National Highways is directing motorists to its live travel alert page for the incident here.

The practical impact is simple and brutal: if you are heading toward the M25 from Harlow, you are likely to hit queues well before the closure point, and those delays can ripple back quickly because this section funnels commuter traffic and longer-distance journeys into one of the busiest orbital routes in the UK. Even where traffic begins to move, it often does so in short bursts, with stop-start conditions stretching for miles behind the incident.

For many drivers, the most stressful part of incidents like this is not the headline closure, but the uncertainty around clearing times. Recovery of an overturned vehicle can require specialist equipment, careful traffic management and a safe working area for emergency crews. If there is an ongoing investigation, lanes may stay closed even after the vehicle is moved, particularly if officers need to examine the scene or gather evidence.

The best advice is unglamorous: build in time, avoid last-minute lane changes, and assume the queue is longer than your satnav first suggests. Drivers approaching Junction 7 are often diverted away from the motorway, which can quickly congest local routes as traffic spills into nearby roads around Harlow and the approaches to the M25 interchange.

If you are travelling this morning, keep an eye out for signage and traffic officers, and do not rely on one single route as conditions can change quickly. If you are already in the queue, keep a safe distance, leave space for emergency vehicles where possible, and remain alert to instructions from police and National Highways teams working on the carriageway.

We’re tracking key UK updates as they break across transport, weather and local disruptions. For more fast-moving coverage in one place, you can also browse the latest headlines on Swikblog.

If you’re heading toward the M25 via the M11: plan for significant delays, follow the signed diversion, and check live status before you set off.