Two-Hour Traffic Jam on E40 After Fierce Crash Between Cars – Road Reopens Quickly

A serious traffic incident on the E40 in Nevele caused major disruption on Monday evening. The accident, involving two cars, occurred just after 7 pm, prompting emergency services to dispatch a medical helicopter. This led to a full closure of the highway in the direction of Ghent, affecting many commuters and travellers.

According to Peter Bruyninckx from the Flemish Traffic Centre, motorists caught in the resulting traffic jam faced delays of up to two hours. The incident, reported around 19:20, coincided with already heavy traffic as many people were returning from day trips inland. How can drivers best navigate such unexpected delays? And what measures are in place to manage these critical situations efficiently?

By 9 pm, the E40 was reopened, allowing traffic to resume smoothly. The events of 2025-06-09 23:18:00 highlight the ongoing challenges of managing road safety and congestion on Belgium’s busy highways. Below is a quick summary of the situation.

This accident raises important questions about traffic management during emergencies. Are alternative routes effective enough when main highways close? How prepared are emergency services to handle peak traffic disruptions? Key points to consider include:

• Medical helicopter landing required full highway closure, intensifying delays.
• Traffic was rerouted via a parallel service road, but congestion remained heavy.
• Peak travel times increase the impact of accidents on commuter flow.
• Timely reopening of the highway helped reduce prolonged gridlock.

As Belgium’s road network continues to face heavy usage, investing in smarter traffic management and better emergency response coordination is essential. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and consider alternative routes during peak hours to minimise disruption.