M25 closure – live: Drivers warned to pack extra food and drink as motorway shuts with 19-mile diversion
Junctions 9 and 10 in Surrey were closed at 9pm on Friday and will remain shut off until 6am on Monday
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Traffic is slow moving on parts of the M25 as Junctions 9 and 10 are shut while a new bridge is built.
There were tailbacks along the M25 in the lead up to Junction 9 and on the A234 as drivers followed a diversion to avoid the closure.
According to Google Maps, there was also a build-up of traffic at the end of the diversion on the A3, southwards, near Junction 10.
London’s orbital motorway is shut between Junctions 9 and 10 from Friday night until Monday while a new bridge is installed.
The RAC has advised motorists to avoid travelling in the area if possible and to pack extra supplies if they must take to the roads.
“With weekend temperatures reaching 25 degrees or even higher, it’s likely that routes around the...diversion will be busy as people make the most of the fine weather and jump in the car for day trips,” Alice Simpson, RAC breakdown spokesperson, said.
Pinned post: M25 closed in both directions between Junctions 9 and 10 - mapped
Map below shows section of M25 motorway that is closed until Monday morning.
Matt Mathers11 May 2024 09:48
Update: Slow moving traffic on lead up to Junctions 9 and 10
Traffic is slow moving on the lead-up to Junction 9 on the M25, which is currently shut between Junctions 9 and 10 for maintenance work.
There was also slow moving traffic northwards on the A243, where drivers are exiting the motorway on a diversion to avoid the closure.
According to Google Maps, there was also a build-up of traffic at the end of the diversion on the A3, southwards, near Junction 10.
Matt Mathers11 May 2024 15:11
Watch: Drone footage captures scale of M25 closure as new bridge beams installed
Drone footage has captured the sheer scale of this weekend’s M25 closure as new bridge beams are installed.
The motorway – which is Britain’s busiest – will be closed in both directions between junctions 9 and 10 in Surrey from 9pm on Friday (10 May) until 6am on Monday (13 May) while concrete beams for a new bridge are installed.
Diversion routes will take cars on a 19-mile journey on A roads, crossing from Surrey into London’s Ulez area, though National Highways has assured drivers “no enforcement action will be taken”.
Matt Mathers11 May 2024 13:44
ICYMI: Traffic flowing fairly smoothly early on Saturday
The key junction on the M25 closure diversion is the A3-A240 interchange at Tolworth in southwest London, travel correspondent Simon Calder reports.
It is a large and complex junction that is normally busy with local traffic and many bus services as well as vehicles joining and leaving the A3 trunk road between London and Portsmouth
Early on the first morning of the closure, traffic was flowing fairly freely. But the diversion route passes close to Chessington World of Adventures, which is expected to be very busy over the weekend. The RHS Garden Wisley, close to junction 10, is open as normal.
Motorists who decide to take the train instead between London and Portsmouth will find that the main railway line is partly closed due to Network Rail engineering work, with rail replacement buses running. There are also rail closures between Reading and Guildford, and between Guildford and Ash.
Traffic on the rest of the M25 is likely to be much heavier; for example motorists from Birmingham or Oxford taking the M40 to London may decide to head for Gatwick via the northern and eastern sections of the M25, increasing the distance covered by almost 100 miles.
Matt Mathers11 May 2024 13:00
ICYMI: Why is the M25 closed again this weekend and how bad is the traffic?
“Only travel if necessary”: that was the message from National Highways ahead of the second weekend shutdown of the M25.
Full report:
Matt Mathers11 May 2024 12:34
Could the work overrun?
Most unlikely, says travel correspondent Simon Calder. The project bosses are well aware that finishing before the Monday morning rush hour is essential.
There are a series of milestones place to make sure the M25 is open for business at the start of the working week.
Last time the work was completed, and the M25 reopened, eight hours ahead of schedule.
Matt Mathers11 May 2024 11:06
Drivers urged to pack extra food and drink if planning to travel on M25
The RAC advised motorists to avoid travelling if possible and pack extra food and drink if they plan on using the M25 this weekend as stretches of the motorway shut for the entire weekend.
Alice Simpson, RAC breakdown spokesperson, said: “As this next M25 weekend closure immediately follows major national rail strikes which could see many more people take to the roads, it could be up to six days of disrupted travel for London’s drivers.
“The closures also coincide with the retrofitting of new emergency areas on all-lane-running stretches of the M25, meaning delays are likely between junctions 5 and 7 in Surrey and Kent and junctions 23-27 in Hertfordshire and Essex.
“With weekend temperatures reaching 25 degrees or even higher, it’s likely that routes around the 23-mile diversion will be busy as people make the most of the fine weather and jump in the car for day trips.
“Anyone heading to Chessington World of Adventures, which is close to the official A3 diversion route, should expect delays and pack extra food and drink in the event they’re on the road longer than expected.
“Holidaymakers heading to Gatwick or Heathrow should leave an hour earlier than usual and allow plenty of time for parking and security checks.”
Matt Mathers11 May 2024 11:00
ICYMI: Drivers warned over Ulez charges if they ignore diversions
Drivers are being warned that they will be subject to London’s ultra low emission zone (Ulez) rules if they move off official diversion routes during this weekend’s M25 closure.
National Highways said anyone ignoring diversion signs in an attempt to find shorter alternative routes will be liable for the £12.50 daily Ulez fee if their vehicle does not meet minimum emissions standards.
Full report:
Matt Mathers11 May 2024 10:30
Traffic flowing fairly smoothly early on Saturday
The key junction on the M25 closure diversion is the A3-A240 interchange at Tolworth in southwest London, travel correspondent Simon Calder reports.
It is a large and complex junction that is normally busy with local traffic and many bus services as well as vehicles joining and leaving the A3 trunk road between London and Portsmouth
Early on the first morning of the closure, traffic was flowing fairly freely. But the diversion route passes close to Chessington World of Adventures, which is expected to be very busy over the weekend. The RHS Garden Wisley, close to junction 10, is open as normal.
Motorists who decide to take the train instead between London and Portsmouth will find that the main railway line is partly closed due to Network Rail engineering work, with rail replacement buses running. There are also rail closures between Reading and Guildford, and between Guildford and Ash.
Traffic on the rest of the M25 is likely to be much heavier; for example motorists from Birmingham or Oxford taking the M40 to London may decide to head for Gatwick via the northern and eastern sections of the M25, increasing the distance covered by almost 100 miles.
Matt Mathers11 May 2024 10:06
Official diversion routes this weekend
Clockwise diversion for all but over-height vehicles:
Anticlockwise diversion for all but over-height vehicles:
Drivers using the signed diversion route won’t be subject to any Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charges that may usually apply. The Ultra Low Emission Zone will remain in force on all other routes in London across the weekend.
Matt Mathers11 May 2024 10:00
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