M5 closed after lorry crashes through barrier

The M5 was closed today after a lorry crashed into a central reservation between Junction 2 for Oldbury and Junction 3 for Halesowen.

The crash happened at 9.30pm last night, when the truck, which was travelling in a northbound direction, hit the barrier and crossed over into the other carriageway, close to Junction 2.

Fuel spilled across both sides of the road, which was closed in between the two junctions southbound. Two lanes of the northbound carriageway were also closed.

No other vehicle was involved in the crash and the driver suffered only minor facial injuries.

Highways Agency staff were on site overnight resurfacing the road, which was damaged by the fuel spill. Officers were still waiting for the surface to dry this morning.

By 7am queues were building up for 4.3 miles southbound, back up to Junction 8 of the M6, where the motorway merges with the M5 at the Ray Hall interchange.

Northbound there was a 1.5 mile tailback, as far as Frankley Services.

A total of 656ft of the central reservation was damaged in the crash, with a temporary barrier repair expected to be carried out later today. Three lamposts were also knocked down.