Lorry and car collision shuts A120 near Great Dunmow, Wales 2026

Key Points

• The crash between a lorry and a car led to the closure of the road in both directions on Saturday morning, August 22, 2026.
• The incident occurred in the Felsted locality shortly after 6.45am.
• This resulted in damage to the central reservation barrier, thus necessitating repairs on the road infrastructure.
• Motorists were delayed for about two-and-a-half hours due to traffic tailbacks.
• According to Essex Police, there were no reports of any major injuries.
• Essex County Fire and Rescue Service dispatched their teams from Braintree, Chelmsford and Newport following a call received at 6.49am.
• Their efforts ensured that no one was trapped at the scene of the crash.
• The police advised drivers to take a different route since the area was inaccessible.

Wales Live Traffic & Travel  (Wales Times) August 22, 2026 — An A120 crash involving a lorry and a car closed the main route in both directions between Great Dunmow and Braintree on Saturday morning after damage was caused to the central reservation barrier.

The collision occurred in the Felsted area shortly after 6.45am. Emergency services were sent to the scene, while the condition of the road network meant the closure was expected to cause disruption for several hours.

Essex Police said that, despite the collision and the damage to the barrier, no serious injuries had been reported. The force urged drivers to stay away from the affected stretch of the A120 and seek alternative routes while the incident was dealt with.

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “Thankfully no serious injuries have been reported, however there is damage to the road network.

“Emergency services and highways colleagues are working to resolve this issue, but there will be disruption for a number of hours.

“Please avoid the area and look for alternative routes. Thank you for your patience. We will update as soon as possible.”

The A120 is an important route for motorists travelling between Braintree, Great Dunmow and surrounding parts of Essex. The closure left drivers caught in long queues on Saturday morning as emergency responders and highways workers attended the incident.

Why was the A120 closed in both directions?

The A120 was closed in both directions because the crash resulted in severe damage to the central reservation barrier.

Essex Police confirmed that the damage affected the road network. The force did not provide further details about how the collision happened, the precise extent of the barrier damage, or when the road was expected to reopen.

Central reservation barriers separate opposing streams of traffic. Damage to such infrastructure can require the road to be closed so that emergency services can work safely and highways teams can assess and repair the affected area.

The police statement made clear that the closure was not solely related to the initial collision response. It also reflected the need for highways colleagues to address the damage left on the route.

Motorists were advised not to travel through the Felsted area if possible and to find alternative roads. The disruption was expected to continue for a number of hours as emergency services and highways staff worked at the scene.

How long were drivers delayed after the collision?

Drivers reported being stuck in stationary or slow-moving traffic for up to two-and-a-half hours following the A120 crash.

One woman posted on Facebook at 9am that her son had been caught in the traffic for more than two hours. She wrote: “My son has been stuck in this for well over two hours. Is there going to be any attempt to try and get these stranded drivers off this road?”

Another person said that her husband had been stationary for two-and-a-half hours.

The accounts illustrate the scale of disruption reported by people travelling on the route after the incident. However, the timings were based on posts from motorists rather than a formal estimate issued by the emergency services.

Police did not state how many vehicles were affected by the queues or identify any diversion route in their initial statement. They instead asked people to avoid the area and look for other ways to travel.

The length of the delays reflected both the full closure of the A120 in the affected area and the work needed after the central reservation barrier was damaged.

What did Essex Fire and Rescue Service do at the scene?

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said it was alerted to the crash at 6.49am, shortly after the collision was reported to have happened.

The service sent crews from Braintree, Chelmsford and uk/local/newport/">Newport to the scene in the Felsted area. Firefighters attended alongside other emergency services dealing with the incident and the impact on the road.

A spokesperson for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: “No one was trapped. The fire service assisted with making the scene safe.”

The confirmation that nobody was trapped provided further information about the immediate emergency response. Fire crews often attend road traffic collisions where there is a possibility that people may be unable to leave damaged vehicles safely.

No information was released about the number of people involved in the crash, whether either vehicle required recovery, or whether either driver received medical treatment. Essex Police said only that no serious injuries had been reported.

What should motorists do while the A120 disruption continues?

Motorists were asked by Essex Police to avoid the affected stretch of the A120 and use alternative routes.

The force said that emergency services and highways colleagues were working to resolve the issue. It warned that disruption would continue for a number of hours because of the damage to the road network.

Drivers travelling between Braintree and Great Dunmow were likely to face longer journeys while the closure remained in place. People planning to use the A120 through Felsted were advised to check the latest official travel information before setting out.

Road users already caught in the queues were affected by significant waiting times, according to the accounts shared on Facebook. The police statement did not indicate whether vehicles would be turned around, released in stages, or directed through a specific diversion.

People travelling in the area were urged to allow extra time, remain patient and follow instructions from emergency services and traffic management staff.

What is the background to the A120 closure between Braintree and Great Dunmow?

The closure followed a collision between a lorry and a car near Felsted, on the A120 stretch between Great Dunmow and Braintree, shortly after 6.45am on August 22.

The incident required a response from Essex Police, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and highways colleagues. Fire crews from Braintree, Chelmsford and Newport attended after the service received the alert at 6.49am.

While no serious injuries were reported and no one was trapped, the collision caused severe damage to the central reservation barrier. That damage led to the full closure of the route in both directions and contributed to delays reported by drivers.

How could the A120 crash affect motorists and local travellers?

The immediate effect of the A120 crash is likely to be longer travel times for motorists travelling between Braintree, Great Dunmow, Felsted and nearby areas while the route remains closed or traffic restrictions are in place.

Drivers who regularly use the A120 for weekend journeys may need to choose alternative routes, which could add pressure to surrounding local roads. People travelling to work, appointments, family visits or other planned activities could face delays where journeys rely on the affected corridor.

The duration of the disruption will depend on the time needed for emergency work, vehicle recovery and an assessment of the damaged central reservation barrier. Essex Police said it would provide further updates when available.