M25 Chertsey Three-Van Crash: All Lanes Now Reopen
Where the Crash Happened and Why the Spot Matters
If you drive east of Woking or commute along the Surrey end of the M25, you will know the junction 11 interchange well. It sits just before the A320 St Peter’s Way, the road that carries traffic into Chertsey and links the town with the wider Runnymede area. The crash happened on the anticlockwise carriageway shortly after 7am on Tuesday, which is the busiest part of the morning for school runs and early shift workers heading into Surrey’s towns and business parks.
This stretch matters because it is one of the few routes where local traffic and long-distance motorway journeys mix closely. Many people use junction 11 to reach Chertsey, Addlestone, and Woking without joining the wider network, so a single incident here quickly backs up onto roads that were never designed to carry diverted traffic. Drivers heading towards Guildford, which is only a short hop away on the A3 network, often find themselves caught in the same queues when they try to avoid the motorway.
For those of us who live along the Thames valley, the junction is a daily reminder of how fragile the morning schedule can be. A minor collision in the wrong place can add half an hour to a journey that normally takes ten minutes, and that is before anyone has even reached the office or a job site.
Who Was Affected and How the Response Unfolded
National Highways, which manages the strategic road network, confirmed that the three-van collision led to delays of 35 minutes on the anticlockwise approach and around four miles of congestion. Its teams worked to clear the carriageway, and all lanes have now reopened. Travel information provider Inrix also tracked the knock-on effect across the surrounding road network, which is useful for drivers trying to understand how far the backlog reached.
On the emergency side, South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed that its crews were stood down before reaching the scene because nobody required medical treatment. That is welcome news for everyone involved, and it means the incident was contained without a more serious outcome.
The most directly affected group may well be people who rely on vans for their income. Tradespeople, including bathroom fitters and kitchen renovation crews, depend on arriving at client homes on schedule. A delay of this length can push back a full day’s work, cause missed appointments, and cost small firms money they cannot easily recover. Commuters, delivery drivers, and anyone heading to appointments across Surrey were also caught in the tailback.
What Residents Should Know and What to Watch Next
With lanes now open, the immediate priority is getting back to normal travel patterns without taking unnecessary risks. Before setting off on the M25, check National Highways’ live updates or a trusted traffic app, particularly during weekday peaks. If junction 11 is showing heavy congestion, an alternative route via local roads may save time, though it is worth allowing extra minutes because local networks can clog quickly once a motorway incident pushes traffic off the main carriageway.
If you run a business that depends on vehicles, this is a good prompt to review your scheduling. Building a buffer into early morning appointments, especially on routes through Chertsey and Woking, can protect both your reputation and your revenue. Homeowners planning a bathroom refurbishment or kitchen renovation should also ask contractors how they handle travel delays, because a short disruption can have knock-on effects on a project timeline.
As for what comes next, the key questions are whether the investigation reveals a common cause and whether any further roadworks or traffic management changes will follow. I will keep watching for updates from National Highways and local emergency services. If you saw the collision or were stuck in the tailback, send your account to BBC Surrey. Your experience could help other drivers plan better.
Source: All lanes reopened after three-van crash on M25 near Chertsey
