REDDITCH, England â A serious crash on the M42 near Redditch forced the motorway to close in both directions overnight, causing major disruption into Friday morning as police investigated the collision between Junctions 3 and 2.
The incident happened shortly before 10.20pm on Thursday, September 10, between J3 at Portway/Redditch and J2 at Alvechurch/Hopwood. Both carriageways were initially shut, affecting motorists travelling through Worcestershire and towards the M5.
One carriageway later reopened, but the M5-bound route remained closed into the morning. Drivers were advised to avoid the affected section where possible and use the signed diversion.
M42 remained closed after overnight crash
West Mercia Police and National Highways traffic officers were reported at the scene after the collision, with the motorway closure continuing throughout the night because of the police investigation.
Traffic caught within the closure was later released, while investigative work was underway by around 1am. National Highways warned that the closure was expected to be prolonged while that work continued.
By Friday morning, the incident had been disrupting journeys for more than eight hours.
Three-mile queues and 30-minute delays reported
The opposite carriageway reopened during the early hours, but the route towards the M5 remained shut and was not expected to reopen before the peak morning travel period.
Shortly before 8am, delays of around 30 minutes were reported on the affected side, with queues stretching approximately three miles.
Traffic was also slow on the reopened carriageway, where reports indicated delays of around 10 minutes and queues of roughly four miles.
Those figures can change quickly as traffic builds and vehicles divert onto surrounding roads.
Redditch closure hits traffic heading towards M5
The affected stretch is an important route for motorists travelling through the southern West Midlands motorway network. J3 serves Portway and Redditch, while J2 provides access around Alvechurch and Hopwood. The M42 continues south towards Bromsgrove and connections with the M5.
Drivers planning to use the route should check National Highways travel updates shortly before setting out, particularly because reopening estimates can change during a police investigation.
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Drivers told to follow hollow-square diversion
Motorists affected by the closure were advised to find alternative routes. The official diversion can be identified by the hollow square symbol displayed on road signs.
Drivers heading towards the M5 should allow extra time and be prepared for congestion beyond the motorway itself as diverted vehicles move onto local routes around Redditch, Alvechurch and surrounding areas.
Transport disruption can produce significant knock-on delays even after part of a route reopens. Recent travellers faced similar uncertainty during the Heathrow and Gatwick disruption following the NATS fault.
Police investigation leaves reopening time uncertain
West Mercia Police indicated that the motorway would remain affected for several hours while officers continued their investigation. No firm reopening time was included in the information available during the morning.
The prolonged closure is important for drivers because investigative work can continue after the immediate emergency response has finished, keeping a road unavailable while officers examine the scene.
Crash casualties have not been confirmed
No confirmed information has been released in the reports available about how many vehicles were involved, whether anyone was injured or killed, or what caused the collision.
West Midlands Ambulance Service had been approached for further information, but casualty details were not available in the reports at the time.
Drivers should not confuse this incident with separate recent collisions elsewhere on the M42. Injury or vehicle details from another crash should not be attributed to the J3-to-J2 incident without official confirmation.
Anyone travelling through the region should check conditions before leaving, follow official diversion signs and allow extra time. Similar journey-status checks have been important during other recent disruption, including Sydney Airport delays caused by an air traffic controller shortage.
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