M25 closure – live: Motorway shuts as drivers warned of delays and 19-mile diversion

As part of the M25 closes for the weekend, diversion routes will take cars on a 19-mile journey on A roads.

The routes will cross from Surrey into London’s Ulez area, though National Highways has assured drivers “no enforcement action will be taken”.

But the highways authority said anyone who ignores official 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.

Failure to pay the charge when required can result in a £180 fine, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.

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.”

National Highways says it is necessary for “the installation of a bridge and gantry” as part of a £317 million project to improve junction 10 – which handles 300,000 motorists per day.

“Our improvements will reduce congestion, create a smoother flow of traffic and provide safer journeys for thousands every day,” National Highways says.

The organisation is promising:

• A larger roundabout with extra lanes to increase capacity.
• Free flow left turns at all four corners of the junction.
• New and safer routes for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders.
• Improvements to the local environment and wildlife.

The M25 is now closed in both directions between junctions 9 and 10 in Surrey.

The road closed at 9pm on Friday and will remain shut until 6am on Monday morning while concrete beams for a new bridge are installed.

National Highways senior project manager Jonathan Wade told drivers to leave extra time, follow official diversion routes and to “only travel if absolutey necessary”.

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”.

The closure comes weeks after the motorway’s first-ever planned daytime closure over the weekend of March 15 which saw two-mile queues form.

Most unlikely. 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.

Clockwise diversion for all but over-height vehicles:

• leave M25 at junction 8, A217 (Reigate)
• follow the A217 London, Sutton, (A240) Kingston
• after 3½ miles turn left onto the A240 Epsom, Kingston
• after 3 miles at the Esso roundabout, turn right onto the A24 (A240) Kingston
• continue for 3 miles and at the Tolworth interchange turn left onto the A3 Portsmouth, Guildford
• continue for 9½ miles to the M25 and re-join the motorway at junction 10

Anticlockwise diversion for all but over-height vehicles:

• leave M25 at junction 10 to join the A3 towards London
• after 9½ miles at the Tolworth interchange leave the A3 turning right onto the A240 Epsom, Reigate
• continue for 3 miles to the Esso roundabout and turn left onto the A240 Reigate
• continue for 3 miles then turn right onto the A217 Reigate, M25
• after 3½ miles turn left to re-join the M25 motorway at junction 8.

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.

A daytime closure of section of the M25 closed for the second time ever this weekend as drivers are told to avoid travelling unless necessary.

However, this won’t be the last time the motorway shuts.

Three more weekend closures will take place this year between July and December. Motorists are likely to be given several weeks’ warning.

The diversion route will pass 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.

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.

National Highways says it is necessary for “the installation of a bridge and gantry” as part of a £317 million project to improve junction 10 – which handles 300,000 motorists per day.

“Our improvements will reduce congestion, create a smoother flow of traffic and provide safer journeys for thousands every day,” National Highways says.

The organisation is promising:

• A larger roundabout with extra lanes to increase capacity.
• Free flow left turns at all four corners of the junction.
• New and safer routes for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders.
• Improvements to the local environment and wildlife.