Multiple incidents on the M3 motorway have caused significant travel disruption today, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Emergency services and National Highways have been working to manage several separate events affecting key stretches between Surrey and Hampshire.
Current Traffic Incidents (May 6)
J9 to J8 (Winchester Services): A northbound incident near the Winchester Services exit slip road has resulted in localized lane closures. This is expected to cause tailbacks for those traveling toward Basingstoke.
J7 to J6 (Basingstoke South): Ongoing lane closures (Lanes 1 and 2) are in place for emergency repairs following a collision earlier this week. This section remains a major bottleneck with heavy congestion reported during the morning and afternoon peaks.
J4 to J3 (Lightwater/Bagshot): Northbound delays are reported due to a broken-down heavy goods vehicle (HGV) blocking a lane, slowing traffic heading toward the M25 interchange.
Summary of the Disruption
Section Affected Nature of Incident Current Status
J6 (Basingstoke) Follow-up from serious crash Lanes 1 & 2 closed; heavy delays.
Winchester Services Exit slip road incident Emergency response on-site.
J4 – J3 (Surrey) Broken down HGV Lane 1 blocked; slow-moving traffic.
M25 Interchange Spill-over congestion High volume causing “stop-start” conditions.
Export to Sheets
Major Resurfacing & Long-Term Closures
In addition to today’s accidents, National Highways is currently executing the M3 Black Dam Resurfacing project at Junction 6.
Diversions: There is currently no access into Basingstoke via the M3 Northbound exit slip at Junction 6 during specific night/weekend windows.
Hard Shoulder: A 24/7 hard shoulder closure is in effect between J7 and J6 until at least June 2026 to facilitate safety barrier works.
Travel Advice
Avoid Junction 6: If traveling to Basingstoke, use Junction 7 (Dummer) or Junction 5 (Hook) and follow the A30 to bypass the heaviest congestion.
Alternative Routes: The A31 and A30 are experiencing higher-than-normal traffic volumes as drivers attempt to avoid the motorway delays.
Live Updates: Drivers are encouraged to check Traffic England or the National Highways X (Twitter) feed before setting off, as recovery operations for today’s incidents are expected to continue through the evening rush hour.
