M5 Motorway Gridlock After Serious Exeter Crash Causes Severe Delays
Severe Gridlock Near Exeter Services After Motorway Collision
On Thursday morning, a major collision on the northbound M5 gridlocked Exeter’s primary transport artery, leaving commuters stranded and highlighting the vulnerability of our regional road network. The incident, which occurred around 8:15 am between Junction 31 (the A30 interchange for Okehampton) and Junction 30 near the busy Exeter Services, involved two cars and a motorcycle. Emergency services, including Devon and Cornwall Police, rushed to the scene where a motorcyclist was treated for serious, potentially life-changing injuries before being transported to hospital. For locals, Junction 30 and 31 are critical junctions; they act as the gateway for anyone travelling between Devon, Somerset, and Cornwall. The immediate closure of three out of four northbound lanes triggered nine miles of tailbacks, with delays quickly reaching 90 minutes. Drivers on the A38, A30, and A380 faced bumper-to-bumper standstill traffic, with some motorists stepping out of their vehicles in frustration. This stretch of motorway is essential for local commerce and daily school runs, meaning the disruption vibrated through surrounding residential neighbourhoods like Alphington and St Thomas, as drivers sought alternative back-road routes.
How the Chaos Impacts Commuters, Businesses, and Travel Plans
The fallout from the crash extended far beyond the motorway asphalt, directly impacting local businesses and public transport networks. Stagecoach Devon reported widespread delays across its network, as local bus routes in and around Exeter became snarled in the displaced traffic. For local commuters, what should have been a routine Thursday morning turned into a multi-hour ordeal. However, the impact also hit those heading further afield. As the gateway to the South West peninsula, delays here ripple down to Cornwall's tourism economy. Many travellers planning to go to Newquay for an early spring weekend found themselves trapped on the Devon border. Local hospitality businesses, which rely on smooth transit routes for visitors seeking coastal escapes, watched bookings stall as guests faced massive delays. Whether travelling for business in Exeter or heading down to enjoy the surf in Cornwall, the bottleneck demonstrated how a single incident at Junction 31 can paralyse transport across two counties. Community groups have praised the rapid response of our local paramedics and police officers who worked tirelessly to manage the scene under highly stressful conditions.
Official Diversion Routes and What Local Drivers Should Do Next
For those still needing to travel, National Highways has established an official diversion route. Drivers heading northbound from the A38 are advised to join the A30 westbound, exit at the Alphington Interchange, circulate the roundabout, and then rejoin the A30 eastbound to merge back onto the M5 northbound. Local residents are urged to avoid the Exeter Services area and surrounding arterial roads unless absolutely necessary while accident investigation teams complete their vital work. Moving forward, this incident will likely reignite local discussions regarding transport resilience in the South West. Residents and local action groups have long campaigned for better infrastructure planning around the Exeter junctions, which frequently suffer from severe bottlenecks during peak hours and holiday seasons. As we watch the recovery efforts continue, the immediate priority remains the welfare of the injured motorcyclist. Locals are encouraged to monitor real-time traffic updates before setting off and to remain patient on surrounding rural roads, which are currently absorbing the overflow of heavy highway traffic.
Source: Biker seriously injured in M5 crash as motorway remains closed
