Drivers on the A13 were caught up in long tailbacks after a lorry overturned following a collision with a car.
It took emergency services more than two hours to clear the Southend-bound track and diversions were put in place as the vehicles were moved from the scene.
Tuesday night's accident was the first serious crash on the new stretch of the £20 million A13 by-pass skirting Aveley, which opened a few months ago.
A police spokesman said: "It caused quite a few problems and took us some time to clear."
It is not thought anyone was seriously injured.
Crash scene - the overturned lorry which blocked the A13
Picture: DAVE HENDERSON
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article