A fatal collision involving a van on Wednesday morning forced authorities to close a section of the M23 motorway near Gatwick Airport, causing significant traffic delays for motorists heading toward the airport.
The incident occurred around 01:20 BST at junction nine for Crawley on the coastbound carriageway, according to National Highways.
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The closure spans the southbound lanes between junction eight for the M25 near Merstham and junction 10 for the A264 at Crawley.
National Highways stated that the affected stretch of the road is expected to remain closed to traffic until late afternoon while emergency services handle the aftermath of the crash.
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Travel monitoring service Inrix reported that congestion is severely affecting the M25 in both directions surrounding the M23 junction.
Motorists traveling to Gatwick Airport are being strongly advised to check alternative routes and allocate extra travel time.
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A diversion route has been established for drivers leaving the M25 at junction six, directing vehicles along the A22 southbound toward Eastbourne before taking the A264 through Copthorne to rejoin the M23 at junction 10.
