Police are attending a crash on the A3 in south London this morning, with one lane closed and traffic moving slowly past the scene.
The collision happened on Kennington Park Road near Newington Butts, a busy stretch of the A3 through Kennington in the borough of Lambeth. Officers are at the location dealing with the incident, and drivers are facing delays on the approaches in both directions.
Follow our live blog below for the latest updates as we get them.
What we know so far
Here is what we know about the incident at this stage:
- The crash happened on the A3 at Kennington Park Road, close to Newington Butts in Kennington, south London.
- One lane is closed while police attend the scene.
- Traffic is slow through the area, with queues building on surrounding roads.
- The incident was first reported on the morning of Friday, 16 October.
It is not yet known how many vehicles are involved or whether anyone has been injured. Motorists are asked to approach the area with caution and to follow any directions given by officers at the scene. We will update this story and the live blog above as more information becomes available.
Where exactly is the disruption?
The A3 is one of the main routes out of central London towards the south-west. It runs from the Elephant and Castle area through Kennington, then continues via Stockwell and Clapham towards Wandsworth before leaving the capital altogether on its way to Portsmouth.
Kennington Park Road forms part of this corridor through SE11, carrying a heavy mix of commuter, bus and local traffic. At this point the road runs close to Kennington Park and the Oval cricket ground, and it is a well-used cut-through for drivers heading between central London and the south-west. The stretch sits a short distance from the Elephant and Castle to the north and Brixton to the south, feeding traffic onto the wider south London road network. Any lane closure here quickly sends ripples through the surrounding streets, particularly during the morning rush.
Alternative routes and advice for drivers
Drivers heading through Kennington this morning are advised to avoid the area if they can and to allow plenty of extra time for their journeys. Possible alternatives around the closure include Kennington Road, Clapham Road and the roads around the Oval, although these are likely to be busier than usual as traffic diverts.
Bus passengers should also expect delays, as services through Kennington Park Road and Newington Butts may be held up or diverted while the lane remains closed. Those who can may find it quicker to use the Northern line from Kennington or Oval stations instead. Check live travel information before setting off and consider a different route if your journey takes you through SE11.
This is the latest in a series of collisions to disrupt the capital’s roads. Last week, Wandsworth Road was shut in both directions after a crash, while Kensington High Street was closed to traffic as police dealt with an ongoing incident. Three people were also taken to hospital after a crash at Kew Bridge.
What happens next
Police will remain at the scene until the vehicles involved have been recovered and the road is safe to reopen fully. Once the lane reopens, traffic should gradually ease, although delays may linger for a while as the backlog clears.
This is a developing story. We are monitoring the situation and will add further updates to the live blog at the top of this page as soon as we have them. Drivers heading to work or school through the area should consider leaving earlier than usual. If you are travelling through Kennington this morning, check back for the latest before you set off.
