M3 Junction 3 (Lightwater & Bagshot)
Junction 3 serves Lightwater, Bagshot and the A322 towards Bracknell and Guildford. The stretch running north from here towards the M25 is the busiest counted length of the M3 in Surrey.
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Latest accident or incident on the M3
The most recent accident or incident on the M3 that we are aware of.
M3 Eastbound Jct 2 to Jct 1 carriageway closure
00:462 Sept 2026reported 10 min ago
- Location
- M3 eastbound between J2 and J1
- Direction
- Eastbound
- Lanes closed
- Carriageway closed
- Reason
- Other
- Schedule
- 22:00 Tue 1 Sept → 05:30 Wed 2 Sept
Latest active roadworks on the M3
Roadworks live on the M3 right now.
A303 eastbound crematorium to M3 carriageway closure
00:462 Sept 2026reported 10 min ago
- Location
- M3 eastbound between J8 and J7
- Direction
- Eastbound
- Lanes closed
- Carriageway closed
- Reason
- Roadworks
- Schedule
- 20:54 Tue 1 Sept → 06:00 Wed 2 Sept
+ 1 more active roadworks - search all M3 traffic news →
Latest planned roadworks on the M3
The next planned roadworks scheduled on the M3.
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Updated 00:57 Wed 2 Sept
Powered by National Highways’ Transport Data Feeds.
How busy is the M3 at Junction 3?
The Department for Transport counts both stretches either side of Junction 3. Both are physical counts, not estimates. These are the 2025 figures.
| Stretch | Length | Vehicles per day | Lorries |
|---|---|---|---|
| J3 north towards J2 and the M25 | 5.5 miles | 123,417 | 8,271 |
| J4 Frimley down to J3 | 4.5 miles | 118,589 | 6,774 |
That makes the northbound stretch the 5th busiest of the 24 measured lengths of the M3, and the busiest anywhere in Surrey.
It is also the most evenly loaded heavy stretch on the motorway — just 2.3% separates the two directions (62,412 against 61,005). On a road where one junction runs 26% heavier one way than the other, that is unusual, and it means congestion here tends to build in both directions at once rather than in a single commuting peak.
Vans are the story on this stretch: 17,926 LGVs a day, well ahead of the 8,271 lorries.