Key Highlights
- A vehicle fire on the M11 caused severe traffic delays near Grantchester Road.
- The incident happened at J12 and required emergency services to attend the scene.
- Traffic was temporarily held as firefighters worked to tackle the blaze.
- CambridgeshireLive provided live updates on the situation, including road closures and reopenings.
M11 Traffic Disrupted by Vehicle Fire Near Grantchester Road
On Friday, December 19, a vehicle fire on the M11 near Grantchester Road caused severe traffic delays, bringing travel plans to a halt for many commuters and travelers. The incident occurred at junction J12, leading to congestion that stretched back to Junction 11 (Cambridge South/Harston).
Emergency Services Respond
A spokesperson from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the details of the fire: “At approximately 3:57 pm on Friday, two crews from Cambridge were dispatched to address a car fire on the M11 northbound near Grantchester. The vehicle was well alight upon arrival, and firefighters are working diligently to contain the blaze.”
Real-Time Traffic Updates
Inrix, the traffic monitoring company, provided regular updates throughout the incident, tracking the progress of emergency services and the resulting delays. At 18:59 on Friday, December 19, CambridgeshireLive published an update stating that “The M11 has reopened, but there were long traffic delays due to an earlier vehicle fire.” This was followed by a series of updates reflecting the dynamic nature of the situation:
- 18:53 PM – The lanes on the M11 Northbound have reopened.
- 18:36 PM – Traffic is starting to clear, but there were initial congestion issues from J12 Grantchester Road to J13 A1303 Madingley Road (Madingley/Cambridge).
- 17:50 PM – Investigation work is taking place on the M11 Northbound following an earlier vehicle fire, with severe delays due to accident investigation and earlier vehicle fire from J12 Grantchester Road to J13 A1303 Madingley Road (Madingley/Cambridge).
- 17:20 PM – The M11 Northbound has been closed. Severe delays are in place with drivers being advised to leave extra time for their journeys.
Advice and Precautions
The Cambridgeshire County Council issued a warning to the public, advising them to avoid the area near J12 Grantchester Road: “#M11 northbound approaching J12 #Barton; LONG DELAYS due to a vehicle fire. Please avoid if possible and allow extra time for your journey.”
CambridgeshireLive also reminded drivers of the importance of planning ahead: “Sign up to our to make sure you never miss a big story from Cambridge or anywhere else in the county. You can also sign up to our dedicated Peterborough, Traffic and Crime s for the latest updates on the topics you are most interested in.”
The fire caused significant disruptions but was eventually brought under control by emergency services, leading to partial road closures before eventual reopening.
