A crash on the M4 near Swindon caused major delays for drivers on Monday after emergency services were called to a two-car collision on the eastbound carriageway.
The incident affected the stretch between Junction 17 for Chippenham and Junction 16 for Swindon, a busy part of the motorway used by commuters, freight traffic and long-distance drivers heading across Wiltshire and towards the South West.
All eastbound lanes were initially stopped after the collision, according to traffic updates shared during the incident. The closure quickly led to heavy queues, with congestion building for several miles as drivers approached the affected section.
National Highways later said traffic was facing delays of around 30 minutes, with four miles of congestion reported on the approach. As the incident continued, delays increased to around 50 minutes compared with normal journey times.
M4 delays build after crash between Chippenham and Swindon
The crash was reported late in the morning between J17 and J16. Emergency services attended the scene while traffic was held and lanes were closed to allow the incident to be managed safely.
Wiltshire Police later confirmed that lane three had reopened, but two lanes remained closed while work continued at the scene. That partial reopening helped some traffic begin moving again, although long queues remained in place for drivers already caught in the delays.
Traffic maps showed congestion around the Swindon area, with the eastbound carriageway heavily affected between the two junctions. Motorists heading towards Bristol and Bath were also affected as delays spread along the route.
The incident was marked as severe while active, with traffic information showing delays of up to 40 minutes at one stage and a later estimated return to normal conditions in the afternoon. A later update showed the incident had cleared, meaning the crash scene had been dealt with, although traffic was still expected to take time to recover.
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For live and official motorway information, drivers can check National Highways travel updates.
What drivers need to know
The affected section of the M4 is a key route between Wiltshire and the wider South West. When lanes are closed on this part of the motorway, delays can grow quickly because traffic has limited space to move around the incident.
Even after one lane reopened, queues remained because vehicles had already backed up for miles. Recovery work, emergency response activity and safety checks can also keep lanes closed after the immediate crash response has finished.
Drivers travelling through the area were advised to allow extra time, follow motorway signs and avoid sudden lane changes near the incident. Those yet to begin their journeys were urged to check conditions before setting off, especially if travelling eastbound through Wiltshire.
The latest update showed the incident as cleared, but residual delays can continue after a motorway crash because the traffic already trapped in the queue needs time to move through. Speeds may also remain lower than normal while traffic levels settle.
Swikblog has also covered other major motorway disruption, including M4 crash delays near Newport, where a separate incident caused long queues and lane closures on another busy section of the motorway.
Monday’s disruption near Swindon shows how quickly a collision on a major motorway can affect thousands of journeys. Although the crash has now been cleared, drivers using the M4 between Chippenham and Swindon should continue checking travel updates before heading out.
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