A12 traffic chaos after car fire halts northbound route near Chelmsford
Drivers faced severe disruption on the A12 northbound this morning after a car fire brought traffic to a standstill just outside Chelmsford.
The incident happened between Junction 18 (Danbury) and Junction 19 (Boreham Interchange), with vehicles left stranded in growing tailbacks. Initially, the situation was thought to be an accident, but officials later confirmed the true cause.
Essex County Council’s traffic control centre clarified the situation, while the AA issued a key update: “Road blocked and queueing traffic due to vehicle fire on A12 Northbound from J18 A1060 (Danbury) to J19 A131 (Boreham Interchange).”
“The other side is also partially blocked. Confirmed to be a fire, not an accident as initially reported.”
Emergency crews attended the scene, with both carriageways experiencing delays. The southbound side, although not directly involved, was partially blocked as smoke and onlookers slowed progress.
Motorists reported queues stretching in both directions, with the disruption hitting morning commuters hard.
The A12 is a major route through Essex, and any blockage tends to trigger long delays. Recent incidents, such as a serious Boreham crash, have shown just how quickly traffic can grind to a halt.
Drivers are being urged to avoid the area where possible and check live traffic updates before setting off.
