M25 closures - live: Drivers warned of ‘carmageddon’ as junction works to bring major delays
Motorists urged to stay at home as traffic delays could last up to five hours
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Drivers are being urged to ignore satnavs and only follow official diversion routes during an ‘unprecedented’ M25 closure this weekend to avoid causing gridlock
(PA Wire)
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Drivers have been warned to “stay at home” as the unprecedented closure of the M25 is expected to cause a “carmageddon” of gridlock traffic this weekend.
The five-mile stretch of the motorway between Junctions 10 and 11 in Surrey will be closed in both directions from 9pm on Friday until 6am on Monday while a bridge is demolished and a new gantry is installed.
This is the first planned daytime closure of the motorway - which encircles London - since it opened in 1986.
National Highways said modelling carried out while it was developing its plans for this weekend indicated vehicles would face delays of up to five hours without mitigation measures, such as urging drivers to stay away.
Project lead Jonathan Wade said earlier this week: “Please don’t travel if you can avoid it.”
The M25 normally carries between 4,000 and 6,000 vehicles in each direction every hour from 10am until 9pm at weekends between Junctions 9 and 11.
An 11.5-mile diversion route has been created to direct motorway traffic along A roads.
M25 closure map, diversions and alternative roads to use this weekend
Drivers are being urged to ignore satnavs to prevent causing gridlock during an “unprecedented” closure of the M25 this weekend.
National Highways issued the alert as it prepares to close a five-mile stretch of the motorway in Surrey from 9pm on Friday until 6am on Monday.
The company estimates that drivers who follow signs for diversion routes on A-roads will have an hour added to their usual journey times between junctions 10 and 11, which will be shut in both directions.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 March 2024 14:15
Alternative routes to Heathrow and Gatwick
Simon Calder advises on alternative route between Heathrow and Gatwick airports:
The easy option is to take the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow to Farringdon in central London, which has a direct connection to Thameslink trains. The journey time is about 90 minutes.
Maddeningly, National Rail does not offer fares for the whole journey. The solution is to buy one ticket from Heathrow to East Croydon and another from there to Gatwick. The total single fare is £22.30.
(PA Wire)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 March 2024 13:30
Train advice for anxious motorists
A leading railway figure has offered some advice to travellers who risk being caught up in the M25 closure over the weekend, Simon Calder writes.
Mark Hopwood, managing director of Great Western Railway, told The Independent’s daily travel podcast: “There isn’t, sadly, a railway equivalent of the M25 so we can’t necessarily replicate all the journeys – but actually one of the great things in London at Farringdon is you can interchange from the Elizabeth Line to Thameslink in about 45 seconds.”
The central London station of Farringdon will allow anyone coming from Heathrow airport or Reading on the Elizabeth Line to change to a Thameslink train to Gatwick airport, Brighton, Luton airport or Cambridge.
“I think people will find that they could maybe make their journey by train and do it in a decent amount of time,” the GWR boss said.
“If you’ve ended up on one of those strange flight itineraries where you need to get from Heathrow to Gatwick, you can do that quite easily.”
Mr Hopwood was speaking at the unveiling of a revolutionary new battery-powered train for a line in west London.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 March 2024 13:00
What’s the recommended diversion?
Jonathan Wade, senior project manager for National Highways, told The Independent: “It’s not going to be a particularly pretty picture over the coming weekend: there aren’t any immediately obvious diversionary routes.
“ Please, if you can either avoid travelling completely, find something to do at home – decorate the bathroom or something or play in the garden.
“If you must go: travel by train, walk, use a bicycle.
The diversion route involves the A3, the A245 and the A320.
Mr Wade urges: “Avoid driving anywhere around those diversionary routes around Painshill, Byfleet, West Byfleet on on the eastern side of Woking. It will be in your interests.”
To make matters worse, some local train lines are closed for engineering work – with passengers warned that rail replacement buses could take even longer because of getting caught up in extreme traffic jams.
Listen to The Independent’s travel podcast with Jonathan Wade – the man who is closing the M25
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 March 2024 12:30
M25 closure will cause ‘carnage’ in villages on diversion route this weekend
From 9pm on Friday 15 March to 6am on Monday 18 March, traffic will be diverted off a five-mile stretch of the M25 to enable the demolition of a bridge and the installation of a new gantry. It is the first time since the M25 was opened in 1986 that there has been a full closure of all lanes.
National Highways have asked drivers to avoid the area during the closure. But with 5,000 vehicles per hour typically passing between Junctions 10 and 11 at weekends, local residents and business owners are anticipating standstill traffic and sleepless nights.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 March 2024 11:48
Under pressure: other key routes that could be hit by the M25 closure
The shutdown of a key section of the M25 southwest of London will add substantial pressure to other motorways and roads as drivers seek ways around the closure, Simon Calder writes.
Traffic on the rest of the M25 is likely to be much heavier. For example motorists from Southampton and Bristol coming in on the M3 and M4 respectively and heading for the Channel ports or Gatwick airport would normally cut through on the southern side of the motorway.
They may decide to make the journey via the northern and eastern sections of the M25, greatly increasing the distance travelled, the environmental impact and congestion.
The western parts of the South Circular A205 may also be even worse than usual.
Unlike the North Circular Road, the southern half is simply a collection of existing roads cobbled together into a rough semi-circle, and is highly prone to congestion.
(PA File Photo)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 March 2024 11:00
RAC warns of a month of ‘double traffic trouble'
RAC breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “With the M25 closures and the Easter getaway both falling in March, it could be a month of double traffic trouble for drivers trying to get around London or access Gatwick and Heathrow.
“Despite fair warning, the reality is most holidaymakers seeking to use either airport will have booked their trips months ago and will have to leave a lot more time to get there – not least because the most obvious diversion routes are likely to get extremely congested.
“If you do plan to drive between the 15th and 18th, we recommend starting your car to test its battery health well in advance of travelling and remembering FORCES to check the Fuel, Oil, Rubber, Coolant, Electrics and Screen wash before making any long journey.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 March 2024 10:25
What is the diversion route?
National Highways said it had “spent months planning for these closures and making sure there are diversion routes in place” – but it admits that there will still be heavy congestion and delay.
The diversion takes motorists along the A3, the A245 and the A320 – and drivers are being urged to stick to the official route rather than following their satnav.
“If people move away from diversion routes that we prescribe, it creates additional issues in different parts of the road network,” said Daniel Kittredge, National Highways senior project manager.
“The majority of the time that will be local roads, so that really impacts residents in those particular areas.”
A map of the M25 Closure diversion routes
(PA Wire)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 March 2024 10:14
Alternative routes to Heathrow and Gatwick
Simon Calder advises on alternative route between Heathrow and Gatwick airports:
The easy option is to take the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow to Farringdon in central London, which has a direct connection to Thameslink trains. The journey time is about 90 minutes.
Maddeningly, National Rail does not offer fares for the whole journey. The solution is to buy one ticket from Heathrow to East Croydon and another from there to Gatwick. The total single fare is £22.30.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 March 2024 10:10
M25 closure map as drivers warned of alternative routes during closure chaos
Drivers are being urged to ignore satnavs to prevent causing gridlock during an “unprecedented” closure of the M25 this weekend.
National Highways issued the alert as it prepares to close a five-mile stretch of the motorway in Surrey from 9pm on Friday until 6am on Monday.
The company estimates that drivers who follow signs for diversion routes on A-roads will have an hour added to their usual journey times between junctions 10 and 11, which will be shut in both directions.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain15 March 2024 10:06
