Updates
Bus routes 190, 211, 220 and 295 are being diverted around the crash scene this morning while emergency services remain in attendance. Passengers in Hammersmith should check their journeys before travelling, as routes through the closed section of Fulham Palace Road are disrupted.
The man caught up in this morning’s crash has been taken to a major trauma centre, according to the latest update on the incident. Paramedics treated the patient at the roadside before moving him on for specialist care. Details are still limited at this stage, but we will update this story as more information comes in.
The closure on Fulham Palace Road has been extended, with the road now shut in both directions between Charing Cross Hospital and Hammersmith Broadway — a wider stretch than the original closure between Aspenlea Road and St Dunstans Road.
Traffic is queuing back to Lillie Road, with drivers being diverted via North End Road and bus routes remaining on diversion.
Transport for London has published a photograph showing the congestion building around the closure.
A man has been taken to hospital as a priority following the crash, with further details expected.
Commuters are facing severe disruption across west London this morning after a crash forced the full closure of a busy Hammersmith road during rush hour.
The incident was first reported in the early hours, and Fulham Palace Road has remained shut through the morning peak, with no confirmed time yet for when it will reopen.
The road is closed in both directions between Aspenlea Road and St Dunstans Road while the incident is dealt with.
By breakfast time, long queues were already building on the surrounding network, with traffic reported to be tailing back towards Lillie Road and around the Hammersmith Gyratory.
Bus routes that normally run along the affected stretch are being diverted, adding to the misery for passengers trying to get to work and school on time.
Motorists are being urged to avoid the area if possible and to allow plenty of extra time for their journeys.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
What we know so far
- Fulham Palace Road is closed both ways between Aspenlea Road and St Dunstans Road following a crash.
- The closure was put in place during the early hours of Thursday morning.
- Long delays are building back towards Lillie Road and the Hammersmith Gyratory.
- Buses are being diverted around the closed section of road.
Rush-hour misery for drivers
The closure has landed at the worst possible time for commuters, with the morning peak already under way when the full extent of the disruption became clear.
Fulham Palace Road is a key north-south route through this part of west London, linking Fulham with Hammersmith town centre and feeding into the wider road network around the gyratory.
With both carriageways shut, drivers are being forced onto surrounding residential streets and already-busy main roads, and congestion is spreading quickly.
The Hammersmith Gyratory is one of west London’s busiest junctions, carrying traffic between the A4, King Street and the town centre. Any closure on the roads feeding into it tends to send queues rippling outwards quickly, and this morning has been no exception.
Traffic monitoring suggests queues are stretching back towards Lillie Road to the south and around the Hammersmith Gyratory to the north, with journey times through the area significantly longer than usual.
Bus passengers also hit
It is not just drivers feeling the impact. Bus services that use Fulham Palace Road are being diverted around the closure, meaning longer journeys and possible missed connections for passengers.
Passengers heading towards Hammersmith Broadway and the Underground station may want to leave extra time or walk part of their journey if possible.
Commuters are advised to check their routes before setting off and to consider alternative ways of travelling where possible.
What to do if you’re travelling
Anyone heading through Hammersmith this morning is advised to avoid Fulham Palace Road entirely and to use alternative routes.
Allow extra time for your journey, and if you rely on buses through the area, check for updates before you travel as diversions remain in place while the incident is dealt with.
Recent disruption on London’s roads
It has been a disruptive period on the capital’s road network. An overnight crash shut the A1203 in both directions near Limehouse Link, while a crash shut Brentford High Street in both directions, and a car transporter crash on the M25 sparked three-mile queues near Chipstead.
What happens next
Emergency services are at the scene dealing with the incident. Once their work is complete and the road has been checked and cleared, it will be reopened to traffic.
The road is expected to remain closed until the incident has been fully dealt with and the carriageway can be safely reopened.
We will continue to follow this story and bring you the latest as the situation develops. Drivers are urged to keep checking for updates before travelling through the area.
