M25 closure: Motorway to shut between junctions 10 and 11 in 'unprecedented' move

M25 closures

The head of National Highways recommends that drivers occupy themselves at home rather than traveling on the M25 during its unexpected closure this weekend. Examples of activities include sprucing up the bathroom or spending time outdoors in the garden.

M25 closures - Figure 1
Photo Sky News

Motorists are advised to avoid a certain five-mile portion of the motorway in Surrey between junctions 10 and 11. This particular stretch will be closed to traffic going both ways from 9pm on Friday until 6am on Monday, thus causing major inconvenience to commuters and travelers.

People are being advised to avoid using satnavs and follow the recommended alternative routes if they need to travel during the construction works.

It's the first time since the M25 opened in 1986 that there will be a planned closure of all lanes during daytime hours. National Highways intends to take down a bridge and put up a new gantry.

All the information you require concerning the closure of the M25 The section below includes a detailed description of the current state of affairs concerning the closure of the M25. It aims to provide you with all the essential information you need to know about the situation. The M25, which is the longest motorway in the UK, has recently been closed in both directions due to an accident involving several heavy goods vehicles. The incident resulted in several injuries, and the affected stretch had to be cordoned off to allow for rescue and recovery operations. As a result of the closure, traffic in and around the surrounding areas has been severely affected, causing major disruptions to road users. Motorists are advised to avoid the affected stretch and use alternative routes until the situation is fully resolved. Efforts are currently being made to clear the affected stretch of the motorway and get it reopened as soon as possible. However, motorists are advised to exercise caution when using the M25 after the reopening as there may still be residual issues. We urge all road users to stay informed about the situation and follow the instructions of the relevant authorities to ensure their safety and that of others on the road. Stay safe!

M25 closures - Figure 2
Photo Sky News

During the development of the plans, it was predicted through modeling that drivers would encounter a delay of a maximum of five hours if no action was taken to prevent it. Mitigation measures such as encouraging drivers to avoid the area or creating alternative routes were suggested to improve the situation.

The National Highways organization predicts that their actions will only result in an additional hour of travel time, as they have calculated this based on a 50% decline in traffic.

Jonathan Wade, who is in charge of the project for the government-run company, stated that the success of managing the closure of the area will largely rely on the adherence of motorists to authorized detours. However, he encouraged individuals to refrain from traveling altogether.

He advised the listeners of The Independent's daily travel podcast to stay away from the region altogether, if possible.

You can either opt not to travel at all or engage in an activity at home. You could spruce up the bathroom or indulge in gardening.

If you need to leave, consider taking the train or walking. You can also opt to ride your bike.

If possible, try not to drive on the alternative roads.

There are a total of five scheduled closures for the M25 this year.

Mr. Wade went on to say, "Additionally, we have mapped out a total of five instances where the M25 will be completely shut down, and this marks the beginning of that plan."

There will be three road closures from the A320 at Chertsey to junctions 10 and 11, and two additional closures from junction 9 in Leatherhead to junction 10 at Wisley.

He mentioned that the dates for the subsequent phases will be disclosed at an appropriate time, and drivers will be informed well in advance.

He stated that the events will not be announced suddenly but will happen gradually between May and December.

According to Daniel Kittredge, a project manager who is experienced in supervising major projects, avoiding alternate routes during this weekend would lead to more complications in various areas of the road system.

Mr. Wade acknowledged before that predicting the length of delays is challenging due to its "unprecedented" nature.

He stated that this type of closure has never happened before, so there is no way to know for sure how many individuals will follow the guidelines we've provided.

Currently, it's quite challenging to gauge the level of effectiveness of our traffic control measures. We kindly request that you refrain from traveling if it's possible.

Get further details on Sky News: Police officer's partner who was killed in custody files lawsuit against police for being careless. Gardens contaminated with sewage and risk of diseases.

During weekends, from 10am until 9pm, the traffic flow on the M25 between junctions 9 and 11 typically ranges from 4,000 to 6,000 vehicles per hour travelling in either direction.

The plan is set to finish by summer of 2025 and aims to enhance the number of lanes to better facilitate access onto and off of the M25 at junction 10, which is currently regarded as one of the United Kingdom's most perilous intersections.

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