Motorists on the M2 faced severe delays on May 14 after the east-bound carriageway was closed between junction 3 for Chatham and junction 4 for Hempstead following a medical emergency near Chatham. Kent Police were at the scene leading the response, while National Highways traffic officers assisted with road closures.
Inrix said eastbound traffic was closed with long delays due to a medical emergency from J3 Chatham and Rochester to J4 A278 Hoath Way in Gillingham, with congestion stretching to the opposite side as far as Medway Services. National Highways said the queue had reached two miles and added that delays were about 37 minutes on approach. Drivers were told to allow extra journey time that afternoon, and eastbound traffic was advised to follow the Solid Circle diversion.
The closure also pushed traffic onto surrounding roads around Rochester, Chatham and Rainham as drivers looked for other ways through Medway. A diversion was in place via the A229 and the M20, but the extra flow quickly added to congestion on those routes, leaving the wider area under pressure for much of the afternoon.
The incident was described by the source as both a medical emergency and a collision, and police officers were due to carry out an investigation. National Highways said the M2 east-bound between junction 3 Maidstone and junction 4 Gillingham remained closed because of the collision, keeping one of Kent’s busiest commuter links blocked while recovery and inquiries continued.
