M25 closed J8 - J10 still (12.55pm now) following lorry crash into a bridge and fire. This happened at 2.20am this morning and whilst i appreciate that it was a fatal, surely it could be cleared up quicker than it is. The cost of these delays must be huge - what takes them so long?

Both directions?

Which roads are the J8-J10? Can't remember but have to travel this road later.

Clockwise Reigate to A3 - apparently until at least 6.15pm this evening

Isn't 10 the A3 (Hook) and 8 is the A217 (Reigate)?

I'm just waiting for somebody to decide to sue the drivers of the vehicle for damages if the accident was caused through negligence on the driver’s part. This would probably be in the Millions for accidents such as this.

Si

Bulldoze it all away. |lets get on with life.

[Edited by Luke - 2/26/2003 1:20:41 PM]

If there has been a fire, then this will only add to the delays. Depending on the intensity, the road surface will have melted, this means that before the Motorway can be reopened the surface will have to be relaid and the central crash barriers will also have to be repaired after the damaged sections have been cut away.

Before any repairs can commence however, the accident investigation unit will have to do their bit which can take 3 or 4 hours, and they will ant to examine the scene for anything of any evidential value before it is all swept up and lost. It all takes time.

I was at the Hungerford M4 crash 10 years or so ago when 20+ burnt to death and that took three days before we could re-open the Motorway again.

By the way, the maximum compensation anyone can be awarded for an injury in the UK is £275,000.

I was one of those caught in the queues this morning.
not only will the surface have to be relaid (as T.C says) but there may be a problem with the bridge being unsafe too - I don't know if the surveyor has said whether it is or isn't yet.

Sorry, I should have mentioned the bridge repairs, not just the supports but also the road surface on top of the bridge, so aagin this all adds time.

I'm going anti-clockwise from the M26 to the M3. I assume that's all clear?

If you're going anticlockwise from M26 to M3 - isn't that the long way round? Probably quicker to do it that way round today though!

ooops, I got my clockwise/anti-clockwise the wrong way round! :D

I meant clockwise (I do this route twice a week, I should know! :D)

May take the scenic route via Horsham (& guildford etc.).

That's the route i took this morning. If you get a clear run, the Horsham end of the A281 is great fun to drive, especially the dips, which are pretty severe!