A five-mile stretch of the M25 will be closed for 57 hours (Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
Drivers could face five-hour delays this weekend as a stretch of the M25 is set to shut in both directions.
The first ever planned daytime closure of one of the UK’s busiest motorways could cause traffic chaos, with National Highways warning drivers to ‘stay away’.
The shutdown will impact people heading in and out of London, as well as those heading to Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.
This is what we know about where the M25 is closing and how to avoid the chaos.
What is happening on the M25 this weekend?
All lanes on the M25 will be shut in both directions between Junction 10 and 11 over the weekend.
According to one estimate, the closure could cause delays of up to five hours.
The five-mile section will be closed from 9pm on Friday 15 March to 6am on Monday 18 March.
A map shows where the M25 will be closed – click to enlarge (Picture: Metro Graphics)
Junction 10 is one of the busiest sections on the M25, with around 300,000 vehicles passing through everyday.
The junction meets the A3 to Guilford and Portsmouth. It also leads to Chessington World of Adventures.
Junction 11 links to the A320 heading to Staines and Woking, and the A317 to Weybridge.
Why is the M25 closed?
The closure is part of a scheme to improve Junction 10.
National Highways say that the improvements will ‘make journeys safer and reduce pollution’.
Work on the scheme is already underway (Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
Under the scheme, National Highways hopes to increase the number of lanes to improve traffic flow and to make it safer to enter and exit the M25.
The National Highways said that they are closing the motorway this weekend to demolish the Clearmount bridleway bridge and to install a large gantry.
A spokesperson said: ‘Without a full closure of the M25 at this junction, it would be impossible to safely demolish the overbridges and install the new gantry’.
New routes for cyclists, pedestrians and horse-riders are also being built as part of the scheme.
What alternative route can I take?
National Highways has warned to ‘only use the M25 if their journey is absolutely necessary.’
They have outlined an official diversion route for drivers to take.
The diversion is 11 miles long – more than double the distance on the motorway.
Drivers heading south will need to leave the motorway at Junction 11 and take the A320 towards Woking.
Then, they will need to take to the A245 in the direction of Byfleet and join the A3 southbound, which will take them back onto the motorway.
A map showing the diversion route during the M25 closure – click to enlarge (Picture: Metro Graphics)
If heading north, drivers should leave Junction 10 and head on to the A3 northbound towards Painshill Junction. From there, they will need to take the A245 towards Woking and then the A320.
Jonathan Wade, National Highways Project Lead, said: ‘We have spent months planning for these closures and making sure there are diversion routes in place, but there will still be heavy congestion and delays.’
National Highways advised that people stick to the official diversion route.
They also told drivers to ignore their sat-navs and follow the diversion signs instead.
‘If people move away from diversion routes that we prescribe, it creates additional issues in different parts of the road network,’ Daniel Kittredge, senior project manager at National Highways said.
‘The majority of the time that will be local roads, so that really impacts residents in those particular areas.’
Will I be able to get to Heathrow or Gatwick?
People travelling to Heathrow and Gatwick airports will be affected by the closure and are advised to leave plenty of time to reach the airport if travelling by road.
Some FlixBus services heading from Bristol and South Wales to Gatwick Airport will terminate at Heathrow instead.
FlixBus said that people who need to get to Gatwick have been contacted and can either change their date of travel or receive a full refund.
People travelling to Heathrow and Gatwick could be affected (Picture: Getty Images)
National Express said that their services will be running as normal. They added that hey have contacted customers to offer a free amendment if they wish to change their plans.
Both airports have advised that travellers use trains rather than car, coach or taxi to avoid getting stuck in traffic.
People travelling from London to Heathrow can also travel by train via the Elizabeth Line or Piccadilly Line.
To get to Gatwick from London, travellers can take the Gatwick Express from London Victoria, or use Thameslink services from London Bridge, London Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancreas International.
Will there be more closures on the M25?
The motorway will be closed four more times this year for building work as part of the £317 million improvement scheme.
National Highways haven’t confirmed when the future closures will be, though it is expected that it could take place in April.
They have said that they will avoid holiday periods and key events.
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