A spectacular truck accident this Friday led to the complete closure of the A9 motorway between Montpellier and Sète, heading towards Barcelona. Following this major incident, detours were put in place and significant traffic jams formed, causing major disruptions in the region. A truck crossed the central reservation. This Friday morning, a truck traveling from Spain crossed the central reservation on the A9 motorway, causing a complete halt to southbound traffic. The accident occurred at kilometer marker 115, just before the junction with the A709. Drivers coming from Nîmes were diverted via the A709 to exit 32 at Saint-Jean-de-Védas, creating heavy traffic on this alternative route. Traffic jams and severe disruptions The consequences were immediate, with a backlog of vehicles and traffic jams stretching up to 13 km from Montpellier. Motorists faced significant delays, with waits exceeding an hour and a half. The stranded vehicles were gradually removed, but traffic was slow to clear. Accident management and intervention strategy According to Maud Bonnel of VINCI Autoroutes, the removal of the truck will take place outside of peak hours. The accident damaged the central reservation, requiring repairs before the truck can be removed. This delicate operation will be scheduled for the evening or night to minimize the impact on the already heavily congested traffic. Diversion strategies implemented With travel towards Spain impossible, authorities have implemented diversions via the A709, strongly recommending this route to avoid traffic jams on the A9. The route via Lunel has also been advised to bypass the impact zone, thus helping to alleviate congestion on the roads. Gradual Return to Normal Finally, after hours of disruption, the situation gradually improved. The lanes were partially reopened to traffic, although restrictions remained near the accident site. While clearing operations continued, traffic was restored to three lanes in each direction around 7:30 p.m., marking the end of the traffic jams on the A9 and A709. To learn more about road accidents in Montpellier, see this article or explore our video interview on initiatives to reduce accidentshere .