UPDATE: A14 delays after accident near Cambridge - all lanes now re-opened

MOTORISTS were this morning (Wednesday) being advised to avoid the eastbound A14 after two lorries were involved in an accident.

Cambridgeshire police said the accident happened at about 4.45am, close to Bar Hill where the road is three lanes wide. The accident, which has damaged the road and also caused a diesel spill, closed two lanes of the A14 in the morning rush hour.

Police said they had reopened the two lanes at 9.15am, left the scene and passed control to the Highways Agency.

A police spokesman said: “The vehicles have been recovered and traffic is moving.”

Drivers have been warned to continue to expect congestion, and delays of up to an hour, as the tailbacks clear.

A Highways Agency spokesman said: “There was some diesel spilt on the road, but it was absorbed and swept up, and the road was cleared by 9.15am.”

Earlier, motorists had been reporting delays of up to two hours between Spittals and Bar Hill while surrounding roads were clogged with traffic looking to avoid the A14. In particular the A428, the A1198 and roads through St Ives, Bluntisham and Earith were reported to have seen a large increases in traffic.

Police added that one driver had been taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge – his injuries were not believed to be serious – and another man arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. He was in police custody in Cambridge.