Drivers using one of the East Midlands’ busiest commuter corridors are facing severe disruption after a serious multi-vehicle collision forced the complete closure of the A52 Brian Clough Way, creating extensive delays and knock-on congestion across the wider road network. Emergency services and National Highways traffic officers remain at the scene, with the route shut in both directions and motorists warned to expect hours of tailbacks, diversions and extended journey times.
Major Incident Shuts Key Derby–Nottingham Corridor
The collision occurred on the stretch of the A52 known locally as Brian Clough Way, the main dual carriageway linking Derby and Nottingham and feeding directly into junction 25 of the M1. Initial reports indicate that multiple vehicles were involved in a high-impact crash during a peak travel period, prompting an immediate full closure so police, paramedics and fire crews could work safely at the scene.
Traffic monitoring services are reporting that the entire affected section of Brian Clough Way has been sealed off in both directions, with no through passage for general traffic. Queues are rapidly building from the closure points back towards Derby on the westbound side and towards Nottingham on the eastbound side, with significant congestion spilling over onto local roads as drivers attempt to find alternative routes.
Authorities have not yet given a firm estimate on when the A52 will reopen. National Highways has warned that a combination of collision investigation work, vehicle recovery and carriageway clean-up will likely keep the route shut for several hours, turning what is already a major incident into a prolonged travel headache for commuters, residents and long-distance drivers.
Emergency Services Lead Complex Response
The scale of the incident has triggered a full emergency response involving police, ambulance, fire and National Highways traffic officers. Multiple ambulance units were dispatched to the scene alongside specialist paramedic teams due to early concerns about serious injuries among those caught up in the crash.
Fire and rescue crews have been working to make the scene safe, which typically includes stabilising damaged vehicles, dealing with fuel or oil spillages and, where necessary, using cutting equipment to free trapped occupants. Police collision investigators are also examining the scene, gathering physical evidence and documenting vehicle positions as they begin to piece together how the crash unfolded.
National Highways traffic officers are managing the closure itself, establishing safe cordons and helping withdraw trapped traffic from within the affected zone. Their work also includes coordinating with local authorities on signal changes and diversions to reduce gridlock on surrounding roads, particularly at already-busy junctions and roundabouts feeding onto the A52 and the M1.
Severe Delays, Gridlock and Widespread Knock-On Effects
The immediate impact has been felt by drivers already committed to Brian Clough Way when the collision occurred, many of whom have been left at a standstill while emergency services respond. Some vehicles caught between closure points and the crash scene are being carefully turned around or escorted away when safe to do so, but this process is slow and highly controlled.
Beyond the immediate carriageway, the closure has triggered a ripple effect across the East Midlands road network. Congestion is building around the M1 junction 25 interchange, where the A52 provides a crucial link for both regional and long-distance traffic. Queues are being reported on approach roads to the junction as heavy vehicles and local commuters all seek alternative connections to Derby, Nottingham and the wider region.
Local routes through suburbs and villages close to Brian Clough Way are also coming under intense pressure. Rat-running traffic is diverting through residential streets and minor B-roads that are not designed to handle sustained volumes of heavy traffic, raising concerns about safety, delays to local bus services and disruption to everyday journeys such as school runs and local deliveries.
Advised Diversions and Travel Guidance for Motorists
Police and highways officials are urging drivers to avoid the A52 between Derby and Nottingham entirely for the remainder of the day if they can, and to delay non-essential journeys until the route has been cleared. Those who must travel are being advised to use alternative strategic corridors, including the A50 to the south and routes via the A61, A38 and A453 where appropriate, depending on their origin and destination.
National Highways has signalled that official diversion routes are in place to steer longer-distance traffic away from the closure. Electronic message signs on the M1 and on adjoining trunk roads are being updated with live advice, while regional traffic control centres are feeding information to radio stations, motoring organisations and digital navigation providers.
Despite these efforts, drivers are being told to build significant extra time into their journeys, with delays likely to extend to well over an hour on some approaches as the day progresses. Motorists are being reminded to carry water, ensure mobile phones are charged and remain patient if stuck in prolonged queues while emergency services continue their work.
Impact on Commuters, Freight and Public Transport
The closure of Brian Clough Way is particularly disruptive because the A52 is a vital artery for daily commuters travelling between Derby, Nottingham and surrounding towns, as well as a key link for freight traffic moving goods across the East Midlands. As a result, the knock-on economic and logistical consequences of a prolonged closure can be considerable.
City centre workers who rely on the A52 for morning and evening commutes are facing longer, more stressful journeys as they are forced onto already-busy alternative routes. Many businesses in Nottingham and Derby have grown accustomed to periodic disruption on this corridor, but a complete shutdown with multiple vehicles involved is among the more serious scenarios they must plan around.
Freight operators and logistics firms are meanwhile warning of delayed deliveries and missed time slots, particularly for time-sensitive cargo. Larger vehicles are more restricted in their choice of diversion routes due to height, weight and width limits on minor roads, which can trap heavy goods vehicles in slow-moving queues for extended periods and add significant mileage to scheduled runs.
Local bus operators who run services along or across Brian Clough Way are also being forced to divert or suspend sections of their routes, with passengers experiencing cancellations, extended journey times and last-minute changes. Transport planners will be closely monitoring passenger feedback and journey data from this incident as they refine contingency plans for future major closures on the A52.
Safety Concerns on a Historically Problematic Stretch
The latest shutdown once again highlights longstanding safety concerns around Brian Clough Way. The A52 between Derby and Nottingham has a history of collisions, lane closures and serious incidents involving both cars and larger vehicles, reflecting its heavy usage and complex junction layouts. Even minor crashes on this corridor can cause substantial tailbacks; multi-vehicle incidents such as today’s have a far more dramatic impact.
Local residents and regular users frequently point to a combination of high traffic volumes, variable speeds, heavy goods traffic and short weaving distances between slip roads as contributing factors. In busy periods, especially during commuter peaks and poor weather, relatively small errors by drivers can escalate into multi-vehicle shunts or more severe collisions.
National Highways and local councils have previously undertaken improvement work and safety campaigns along the A52, including changes to junction layouts, resurfacing, signage and speed enforcement. Despite this, the road continues to feature prominently in regional traffic alerts, underlining the ongoing challenge of balancing capacity, safety and reliability on one of the East Midlands’ most important routes.
Investigations Under Way into Cause of the Crash
While the priority for emergency services remains the treatment of casualties and the safe management of the scene, attention will increasingly turn to understanding the precise circumstances that led to the collision. Specialist collision investigators will carry out detailed measurements, vehicle examinations and witness interviews as they build a full picture of the events leading up to the crash.
Dashcam footage from other motorists is expected to play a key role. Police are likely to appeal for any drivers who were travelling on the A52 Brian Clough Way around the time of the incident to come forward with recordings or observations that might help determine how the vehicles became involved and whether any driving offences were committed.
Weather and lighting conditions, traffic density at the time and any recent roadworks or surface changes will all form part of the inquiry. Investigators will also examine whether factors such as speed, distraction, fatigue or vehicle condition contributed to the severity of the crash, with their findings potentially informing future safety measures or enforcement activity along the route.
Travel Advice for the Hours Ahead
With no clear reopening time confirmed, travellers planning to use the Derby–Nottingham corridor through the rest of today are strongly advised to check live traffic and public transport updates before setting out. Motorists who can postpone non-essential journeys until later are being encouraged to do so, particularly those who would otherwise be travelling during the evening peak when the network is already under strain.
For those who must drive, taking a wider-area diversion early, even if it adds several miles to the journey, may prove less stressful and ultimately quicker than sitting in stop-start traffic close to the closure. Drivers are also being urged not to attempt last-minute U-turns on dual carriageways or to cut through unmarked tracks or unsuitable minor roads, which can create additional hazards and complicate the work of emergency responders.
As recovery teams work to remove damaged vehicles and clear debris, and as collision investigators complete their on-site examinations, the A52 Brian Clough Way will gradually move from full closure to partial restrictions before normal traffic patterns resume. Until then, the incident stands as a stark reminder of how quickly a serious collision on a strategic route can escalate into a regional transport crisis, affecting thousands of journeys and putting renewed focus on road safety along one of the country’s most heavily used corridors.