Drivers are facing major disruption on the North Circular this morning after a four-vehicle crash blocked part of the road near Brentfield Road.
This is a developing story — check back for updates.
The collision, involving two cars and two vans, was reported at around 8.29am on Tuesday 29 September. One lane of three is blocked on the A406, with traffic queueing back from the scene.
What we know so far
The crash happened on the North Circular Road near the Brentfield Road junction in the Brent area of north-west London. Traffic reports describe one lane blocked and queueing traffic, with two cars and two vans involved in the collision.
The road has three lanes in each direction at this point, and the loss of lane one is forcing all traffic through the remaining two lanes past the scene. The incident struck during the morning rush hour, when the A406 is at its busiest, and delays are building on the approaches.
Further details have not yet been confirmed. This article will be updated as the situation develops.
Separate disruption nearby
In a separate incident reported minutes later, a van stalled on the northbound exit ramp of the A406 at the A404 Harringay junction, closing the lane. The two incidents are adding to the pressure on the road network in the area this morning.
It follows a string of incidents on London’s major roads
The North Circular has already seen serious disruption in recent days. Last Thursday, a lorry and car collided at Drury Way, leaving drivers facing long delays, while at the weekend the M25 was shut anticlockwise near Potters Bar after a vehicle fire. Yesterday, the A23 was closed in both directions at Thornton Heath after a crash.
What to do if you’re caught in the queues
If you’re heading towards the North Circular this morning, check live traffic information before you set off and allow plenty of extra time. Delaying non-essential journeys until the road fully reopens is the simplest way to avoid the worst of the delays.
Drivers already stuck in the queue should stay in lane, keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead and be patient — sudden lane changes in slow-moving traffic only make congestion worse. If you’re stationary for a long period, switch off your engine to save fuel and cut emissions.
Bus services using the North Circular corridor may also be delayed or diverted, so check before you travel, and consider the Tube or other public transport if your journey allows it.
Why the North Circular grinds to a halt
The A406 is one of London’s busiest orbital routes, funnelling commuter, freight and through-traffic around the north of the capital. Because it carries such heavy volumes with little spare capacity, losing even a single lane during the morning peak has an outsized effect — traffic quickly backs up to neighbouring junctions, and the queues can take hours to clear even after the road reopens.
The road is a notorious congestion hotspot, regularly ranking among the slowest-moving major routes in the capital during rush hour. Any incident during the morning peak tends to send delays rippling across north and west London’s road network.
How a major traffic incident is handled
When a multi-vehicle collision is reported, traffic officers and police will typically secure the scene first, closing the affected lanes to protect those involved and the recovery crews. Specialist recovery vehicles are then sent to remove the damaged vehicles, while debris is cleared from the carriageway.
Lanes are usually reopened one at a time once the road is safe, but the backlog of queued traffic means delays often linger well after the last vehicle has been towed away. Drivers are urged to keep checking for updates before travelling.
This is a developing story — check back for updates.
