The Surrey-stretch of the M25 reopened last night seven hours ahead of schedule following closure for roadworks.
National Highways shut the M25 between junctions 9 (A243 Leatherhead) and 10 to allow for the installation of the new eastern gyratory at junction 10 and a large gantry, as part of a £317m improvement scheme.
The closure started 9pm on Friday 10 May and wasn’t due to end until 6am Monday 13 May. But as with the first closure, the motorway reopened well ahead of schedule due to the swift progress made by the project team.
Drivers had been warned to stick to the four official diversions to avoid congesting other areas and to ensure they didn’t wind up with ULEZ fines. But National Highways warned Sunday that non-freight drivers had been following the route for HGVs, while others had ignored the official routes altogether.
The £317m improvements scheme is one of a series of five taking place on the M25 this year, as part of the Government’s £24bn Road Investment Strategy (RIS2).
This weekend’s closure allowed for the installation of a new bridge consisting of 68 beams, each weighing 16 tonnes, and another four beams weighing 40 tonnes.
Three more closures will take place before the scheme completes in summer 2025. The £317m Junction 10 improvement scheme will increase the number of lanes to make journeys safer and new junction layout to improve traffic flow. It will also make it easier and safer to enter and exit the M25, and reduce the pollution caused by traffic jams.
The next full weekend closure has not been confirmed but is expected to take place in August. Full project information is here.
