The M25 motorway in Surrey is currently closed in both directions between junctions nine and 10, as National Highways are working on the installation of a new 68-beam bridge. The beams will weigh 16 tonnes each, with an additional four beams weighing in at 40 tonnes. This planned closure started at 9 pm BST on Friday and will continue until 6 am on Monday. National Highways said that the roadworks are going according to plan, and substantial progress had been made on the first full day of the weekend closure.
Four diversion routes are put in place between Gatwick and Heathrow, with two for regular traffic in each direction; two routes will cater specifically to overheight vehicles. The agency has assured drivers that no enforcement action will be taken if they follow these diversion routes. However, it warned people they could receive penalty charges under the Ulez rules if they strayed off the official diversion routes during the weekend. Surrey County Council confirmed that the diversion and roads around the area had been busy on Saturday.
The highways agency has seen an increasing number of motorists on Saturday choosing to ignore the diversion route and continuing on the motorway to the next junction. The M25 works are part of a project to improve safety and reduce pollution. A five-mile stretch of the M25 was closed in March between junctions 10 and 11, marking the first time all lanes had been scheduled to be shut in the daytime since the motorway opened in 1986. This scheme, costing £317m, intends to increase the number of lanes to ensure safer journeys and a new junction layout to improve traffic flow. Three more closures are planned before the end of 2024, with the next one scheduled for August.
National Highways had informed drivers to continue to come to Surrey earlier. As the impact of the M25 closure was expected to be limited to certain areas, Surrey County Council has advised commuters to check for updates regarding the diversion and plan their journey accordingly. This significant development project may cause temporary inconvenience to commuters but will undoubtedly ensure safer journeys and a reduced environmental footprint in the more extended run
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