M3 stopped traffic J3–J2 eastbound

Cleared Cleared at 21:20 on 7 Oct 2026, after 247 h 50 min.

Stopped traffic on the M3 eastbound at J3–J2 on Sunday 27 September 2026, from 13:31. Cleared at 21:20 after 247 h 50 min. Timeline of reports from the motorway signs, TomTom and National Highways.

1. ▲

   M3 eastbound · J3–J2

   Obstruction or hazard

   1 lane closed · Sun 13:31–Wed 21:20 (cleared after 247 h 50 min) · delay ~8 min · queue 4.7 mi

   Motorway signs ×2 · TomTom ×2 · National Highways ×2

At its worst: stationary traffic · delay ~20 min

See the M3 on the live map M3 traffic now

Timeline

1. Sun 13:16 Motorway signs: “REPORT OF OBSTRUCTION”
2. Sun 14:01 Motorway signs no longer show “REPORT OF OBSTRUCTION”
3. Sun 14:01 All clear: no source reports it any more
4. Wed 09:46 Motorway signs: “REPORT OF OBSTRUCTION” (reported again)
5. Wed 10:46 Motorway signs no longer show “REPORT OF OBSTRUCTION”
6. Wed 10:46 All clear: no source reports it any more
7. Wed 13:17 Motorway signs: “REPORT OF OBSTRUCTION” (reported again)
8. Wed 13:47 Motorway signs no longer show “REPORT OF OBSTRUCTION”
9. Wed 13:47 All clear: no source reports it any more
10. Thu 11:53 Motorway signs: “REPORT OF OBSTRUCTION” (reported again)
11. Thu 12:23 Motorway signs no longer show “REPORT OF OBSTRUCTION”
12. Thu 12:23 All clear: no source reports it any more
13. Sun 14:17 Motorway signs: “REPORT OF OBSTRUCTION” (reported again)
14. Sun 14:48 Motorway signs no longer show “REPORT OF OBSTRUCTION”
15. Sun 14:48 All clear: no source reports it any more
16. Tue 14:59 Motorway signs: “REPORT OF OBSTRUCTION” (reported again)
17. Tue 15:30 Motorway signs no longer show “REPORT OF OBSTRUCTION”
18. Tue 15:30 All clear: no source reports it any more
19. Tue 15:47 National Highways: 1 of 4 lanes closed
20. Tue 15:48 Motorway signs: “LANE CLOSED FOR INCIDENT ACCESS”
21. Tue 15:57 TomTom: broken-down vehicle, “Stationary traffic, Broken down vehicle”, delay ~17 min
22. Tue 16:06 TomTom: delay now ~10 min (was ~20), “Queuing traffic, Broken down vehicle”
23. Tue 16:30 Motorway signs no longer show “LANE CLOSED FOR INCIDENT ACCESS”
24. Tue 16:34 TomTom: now says queueing traffic, “Queuing traffic”
25. Tue 16:37 National Highways: lane closure lifted
26. Tue 16:38 TomTom: queueing traffic, “Queuing traffic”, delay ~8 min
27. Tue 17:11 TomTom: “Slow traffic”
28. Tue 17:15 TomTom: “Queuing traffic”
29. Tue 17:20 TomTom: “Slow traffic”
30. Tue 17:38 TomTom no longer reports it
31. Tue 17:38 All clear: no source reports it any more
32. Wed 20:50 Motorway signs: “REPORT OF OBSTRUCTION” (reported again)
33. Wed 21:20 Motorway signs no longer show “REPORT OF OBSTRUCTION”
34. Wed 21:20 All clear: no source reports it any more

What the sources said

• Overhead signs read “REPORT OF OBSTRUCTION” (1 sign; furthest along: M3 eastbound between J3 and J2).
• Queuing traffic
• Overhead signs read “LANE CLOSED FOR INCIDENT ACCESS” (1 sign; furthest along: M3 westbound between J2 and J3).
• M3 westbound between J2 and J3
• Slow traffic

Other recent incidents on the M3

• M3 crash J14–J13 eastbound · yesterday 17:06, cleared after 1 h 33 min
• M3 stopped traffic J13–J12 eastbound · yesterday 10:57, cleared after 4 h 31 min
• M3 stopped traffic J12–J13 · Mon 06:54, cleared after 8 h 40 min
• M3 stopped traffic · Fri 16:52, cleared after 41 min
• M3 crash J3–J2 eastbound · Fri 14:04, cleared after 2 h 25 min
• M3 reported crash J4–J4A westbound · 8 Oct 2026 08:54, cleared after 32 h 45 min
• M3 crash J3–J4 westbound · 7 Oct 2026 17:05, cleared after 1 h 24 min
• M3 closed J13–J14 · 4 Oct 2026 11:45, cleared after 1 h 56 min
• M3 crash J3–J4 westbound · 3 Oct 2026 18:43, cleared after 120 h 43 min
• M3 crash J4A eastbound · 3 Oct 2026 14:24, cleared after 46 min

About this page

This page shows what the data sources reported about this event and when, merged from every source that reported it at the same place. It doesn't say what caused it or whether anyone was hurt: no source reports that. Times are UK time. For live alerts, follow @motorways.me on Bluesky.