This was the scene on the M5 motorway at Burnham-On-Sea on Friday (October 16th) after police completely closed the northbound carriageway.
It followed an accident at 4.20am near Bristol when a car left the motorway and struck an electricity pole between junctions 20 and 19.
Emergency crews worked throughout the morning, pictured below, to make the scene safe and replace the damaged pole.
A police spokesman told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Police and the Highways Agency attended the scene and found that a power cable had been damaged, leaving it in such a dangerous position that it is not safe for other motorists to use the motorway,” said .
“As a result, the motorway has been shut in both directions and is expected to remain so for at least a couple of hours.”
The motorway was shut at junction 22 northbound, although traffic was able to go southbound from Burnham-On-Sea.
The northbound carriageway at Burnham did not fully re-open until lunchtime, causing long delays along the A38 through Highbridge.
The police spokesman added: “Decisions to close the motorway are never taken lightly as police officers are aware of the impact this has on local people who are trying to get to work, drop children off at school and go about their daily business.”
