Updated: 1 December 2025
Written By Swikblog News Desk
🕒 Latest Update — Will the M5 Reopen Today?
As of 09:30 GMT today, road operator National Highways reports that clearance and investigation work is ongoing. Their current expectation is that motorway closure between J20 (Clevedon) and J21 (Weston-super-Mare) will be lifted before the morning peak — but no firm reopening time has been confirmed yet. If you must travel north of Bristol, consider using the diversion via A370 → A4 → re-join at J18 (northbound), or the A4/A38 route via J22 (southbound). Last checked: 09:30 GMT, 1 Dec 2025
Motorists are still facing disruption this morning near Weston-super-Mare as authorities continue work at the scene. Reopening time remains unconfirmed.
The M5 motorway — one of Britain’s busiest arterial routes linking the Midlands with the South-West — has been shut in both directions near Somerset after a serious collision late last night, authorities have confirmed. The closure is causing major disruption across the region’s rush-hour traffic, according to early reports from UKNIP.
What happened
The crash occurred just after 11:00 pm between Junction 21 (Weston-super-Mare) and Junction 20 (Clevedon), prompting an immediate response from emergency services. It has been described by police as a “police-led incident”, meaning the scene is under active investigation and clearance is ongoing, with further details reported by UKNIP.
Where the motorway is closed
- Northbound: Closed between Junction 21 and Junction 20, near Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon, as reported by The Sun.
- Southbound: Closed from Junction 19 through to Junction 21, creating a long stretch of disruption for traffic heading towards the South-West, also confirmed by The Sun.
Impact: delays, disruptions and diversions
The full closure is triggering heavy congestion and long delays as traffic is rerouted through local roads and diversion routes. Officials have urged drivers to avoid the area if possible and to consider postponing non-essential journeys, with National Highways warning of “severe delays” in the latest updates carried by regional media and UKNIP.
Diversions are in place in both directions. Northbound traffic is being directed along routes marked with a solid-triangle diversion symbol, while southbound drivers are asked to follow hollow-circle signs on alternative A-roads until the motorway can be safely reopened.
What this means for travellers to Bristol Airport
Commuters heading to Bristol Airport are likely to face significant disruption, as the closure affects one of the main motorway approaches to the terminal. Travellers are being advised to leave considerably more time for journeys, use live-traffic apps and check the latest advice from both National Highways and the airport itself before setting out. Coverage from The Sun notes that delays could be substantial during the morning peak.
Why is the M5 still closed?
A “police-led incident” usually indicates that law enforcement and forensic teams are conducting detailed investigations at the scene. Until those are complete, and recovery crews have removed any damaged vehicles and debris, the motorway cannot safely reopen. Structural inspections of the carriageway and central reservation may also be required if the impact was severe.
As of the latest reports, emergency services remain on site and no official reopening time has been announced. Drivers are being told to monitor live information from the National Highways travel-alerts service at nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates, which provides real-time incident details and estimated clearance times.
When could the M5 reopen?
Serious collisions that require full forensic examination, vehicle recovery and road surface checks can keep a motorway closed for many hours. While some incidents clear in the early afternoon, others extend into the evening, depending on the complexity of the investigation. At this stage, officials have not given an estimate, and motorists are being urged to plan on the basis that disruption will continue for much of the day.
#M5 southbound between J20 (Clevedon) and J21 (Weston-super-Mare) – Incident – Full details at https://t.co/d02B0DTe62 (Updated every 5 minutes)
— Live Traffic – M5 (@Traffic_M5) December 1, 2025
If today’s disruption is affecting your travel plans beyond road delays, you may also want to check our guide on renewing your UK passport early , which explains when you should apply, how long processing takes, and how to avoid last-minute travel problems.
What drivers should do now
- Avoid the M5 between Junction 19 and Junction 21 if at all possible.
- Use live-traffic services or the National Highways travel-alerts page to check conditions before starting any journey.
- Follow official diversion signage (solid-triangle for northbound, hollow-circle for southbound) and listen to local radio traffic bulletins.
- If travelling to Bristol Airport or other time-sensitive destinations, leave significantly earlier than usual and consider alternative routes.
- Postpone non-essential journeys through the affected area until authorities confirm that the motorway has fully reopened.
