DEVELOPING STORY: This is a developing story. The details below are based on the latest available traffic reports and will be updated as more information comes in.
Drivers on the North Circular are facing major delays this Friday afternoon after a crash partially blocked the eastbound carriageway at Henlys Corner.
The collision happened on the A406 North Circular eastbound, just before the junction with the A1 at Henlys Corner, according to AA traffic information issued at around 1.50pm. The road is described as partially blocked, with queueing traffic building up on the approach to the junction.
Congestion is reported to stretch back as far as the junction with the M1, indicating substantial queues through one of north London’s busiest road corridors. The incident was first flagged in traffic updates at around 1.49pm, and the disruption was already being described as causing major traffic within the hour.
Henlys Corner, where the North Circular meets the A1 in the London Borough of Barnet, is one of the key junctions on London’s orbital road network. A partial blockage on the eastbound side at this point is likely to have knock-on effects for drivers heading towards the A1 and for traffic filtering off the M1 onto the North Circular.
The incident follows a string of recent disruptions on the route, including a four-vehicle crash on the North Circular at Brentfield Road earlier this week.
No details have yet been released about the vehicles involved, the cause of the crash, or whether anyone was injured. There is also no confirmed information yet on how long the road is expected to remain partially blocked or how long delays could last.
Friday afternoon incidents on the North Circular can quickly escalate as traffic builds towards the evening peak, and drivers are being urged to check conditions before setting off.
Planning your journey
With the eastbound carriageway partially blocked and queues reaching back towards the M1, drivers heading through the area this afternoon should allow plenty of extra time. Checking live traffic information before leaving — including TfL’s travel updates — will give the clearest picture of current delays.
Where possible, consider delaying non-essential journeys through the Henlys Corner area until the incident has cleared. If you need to travel, think about whether an alternative route or public transport could work for your journey instead. Drivers heading for the M1 or the A1 should factor in delays well before reaching the affected stretch, as queues are already extending a considerable distance back along the North Circular.
The M25 is also seeing disruption today after a crash between Potters Bar and Enfield closed lanes, adding pressure to alternative orbital routes. Longer-term works are also affecting the corridor, with the £10m Hendon Way flyover renewal bringing closures around Brent Cross.
If you’re caught in the queues
Motorists stuck in the resulting queues are reminded to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front and stay alert for sudden braking. If you approach slow or stationary traffic at speed, switch on your hazard lights briefly to warn drivers behind you.
Stay in your vehicle unless it is unsafe to do so, and never use a handheld mobile phone while driving — even in crawling traffic. Keep the hard shoulder and any emergency access clear at all times so emergency vehicles can reach the scene if needed. If you are stationary for a long period and it is safe to do so, switching off your engine will save fuel and cut emissions while you wait.
We will continue to update this story as more details emerge about the crash and the state of the road.
