The Bank Holiday getaway has begun with some motorists, including actor Hugh Grant, stuck for up to five hours in an "almost stationary traffic jam". Grant, 63, encountered heavy traffic as he tried to pass the A3 near Tolworth, Greater London, on Friday afternoon. At one point, he said he was stuck for "four and a half hours so far and still not through it".
Earlier, posting on X, formerly Twitter , as he tried get some clarity on the delay, he asked Transport for London (TfL): "Any chance of an update on the situation on the A3 near Tolworth? Now entering third hour of almost stationary traffic jam. And long red line still ahead. And no exits.
Children in car." TfL responded: "For safety, we've had to close two lanes of the A3 leading up to the Tolworth underpass due to emergency repair works. Unfortunately, severe delays are still present.
We are monitoring the situation and note that traffic is moving, however slowly. We apologise for the delay." During the jam, motorist Musawir Idrees posted an emoji showing his exasperation on X with the words: "Stuck on A3 traffic for last five hours.
Road works." Earlier, National Highways had urged travellers, including those heading to the Chelsea Flower Show in London, to allow extra journey time as there had been approximately three miles of congestion. They warned that lanes were closed on the A3 in London northbound between the A244 junction at Esher and the A309 junction at Chessington to assist with TfL works on the Tolworth U.
