travel news m25 today

Admiring the view: People take selfies by empty stretch of M25

As we mentioned earlier, this is the first planned closure of the M25 in both directions since the motorway was opened in 1986.

To mark the historical event, some people have been stopping to take pictures, or just to take in the eerily quiet stretch of motorway.

'It's really quiet': Business owner says impact of M25 closure hasn't been that bad

A business owner based just off the M25 diversion route has told Yahoo the impact of the closure hasn't been as bad as expected.

Carolyn Atkins, from SuperGrass, an artificial grass company, just outside Woking, told Yahoo News: "It hasn't affected us at all actually. Our lads went off to work this morning, and it's been really quiet.

"We just went into Woking and just came back and that was really quiet. I haven't been towards Byfleet or West Byfleet, but around here it's very quiet."

Carolyn suggested this may have something to do with people following advice issued by National Highways to avoid the M25 and surrounding roads if possible.

"Maybe it's because everybody is not doing what they would normally do," she said.

'Ongoing delays' in some parts of Surrey, but county 'generally coping'

In an update this afternoon, Surrey Highways have said roads in the country are 'generally coping' with the M25 closure between junction 10 at Wisley and junction 11 at Chertsey.

However, it said there are "ongoing delays" between Byfleet and Painshill. The Surrey County Council body added: "Thank you to the drivers who are avoiding the area, and please continue to check travel updates.

Network Rail respond to criticism over railway works clashing with M25 closure

Faced with accusations of "poor planning", Yahoo News asked Network Rail to comment on planned engineering works on parts of South Western Railway's network this weekend.

Some of the affected stations include Esher, Hampton Court, Epsom and Leatherhead, which are relatively close to the M25.

South Western Railway said replacement buses between Epsom and Dorking, and between Epsom and Effingham Junction, may be delayed due to traffic diverted by the M25 road closure, meaning traffic could get worse for some people on Sunday.

The train operator was quick to point out that Network Rail is responsible for these works and plans them at least 12 months in advance.

Responding to criticisms about the timing of these plans, a Network Rail spokesperson told Yahoo News: “Due to planned engineering works, rail replacement buses are in operation this weekend. Owing to the closure of the M25, some rail replacement services may experience delays.

"We’re sorry for the disruption this may cause. Passengers are advised to check before travelling and allow extra time to complete their journey."

A brief history of the M25

Most people aren't exactly a "fan" of the M25, in fact, it was often referred to as the 'road to hell' and 'Britain's biggest car park' when it was first opened with its original three-lane layout.

Then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher cut the ribbon of the final section of the motorway in Watford in October 1986 – completing the circle of the London Orbital Motorway.

The idea orbital roads surrounding cities is nothing new, and London's traffic planners were drawing up schemes from the early 1900s onwards, according to the City of London's website.

In the 1950s, central government planners were considering two separate motorways connecting with London, one running outside the north of the capital, to be called the M16, and another around the south, the original M25.

Plans developed into a single ring motorway, now just called the M25, with work beginning in 1975. Passing through five counties: Kent, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex the motorway was built in a series of sections.

Speed of progress depended on how planning regulations were dealt with and the strength of local opposition. Overall, the project took eleven years and used more than two million tonnes of concrete and 3.5 million tonnes of asphalt. Most of the motorway was initially unlit at night.

The 117 mile motorway cost over £900 million, at 1986 prices, which would be worth more than £2.5 billion today.

In some ways, the motorway was a victim of its own success, as the original three-lane system soon found itself unable to cope with the amount of traffic passing through. This is why so much work has been carried out on the M25 since. Over 200,000 vehicles a day use the M25 now, accounting for around 15% of all UK motorway traffic.

Further M25 delays expected as 150 maintenance workers to strike over pay

Around 150 M25 maintenance workers will go on strike over pay, a union has said.

Unite, which represents the workers, said the walkout would cause “inconvenience and delays” on the major motorway encircling most of Greater London.

Union members voted to strike after being offered a pay rise of 3.4 per cent by Balfour Beatty, an infrastructure company which has a 30-year contract to manage the M25 and its key arterial link roads.

Read the full story from the Evening Standard here

First half of new M25 gantry being put in place

National Highways has reported on the progress of the new gantry being built during this weekend's closure between junctions 10 and 11.

In an update just after midday, the agency said: "Work is progressing and we're preparing to lift the first half of the new gantry into place."

Work is progressing and we're preparing to lift the first half of the new gantry into place Delays continue on approach to the closure #M25 both directions between J10 & J11 We advise only to travel if necessary and follow the diversion route if you must undertake your journey pic.twitter.com/OqQo2Wmi5p — National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) March 16, 2024

Network Rail is 'responsible for engineering works' during M25 closure

South Western Rail (SWR) has said it is not responsible for planned engineering works on its network that will coincide with this weekend's closure of the M25 in Surrey.

In response to an unhappy member of the public on X, the railway operator wrote: "South Western Railway are not responsible for engineering works.

"Engineering works are planned at least 12 months in advance by Network Rail who are responsible for maintaining the UK's rail network."

Yahoo News has contacted Network Rail for comment.

'This feels like incredibly poor planning': Railway engineering works clash with M25 closure

If people in Surrey thought the M25 closure was inconvenient enough, South Western Railway has also announced planned engineering works on some of its routes this weekend, as shown on this map.

Posting on X, formerly Twitter, the railway operator said: "On Sunday 17 March, rail replacement buses between Epsom and Dorking, and between Epsom and Effingham Junction, may be delayed due to traffic diverted by the M25 road closure.

"Please allow extra time to complete your journey."

Suggesting this is perhaps not the best timing for even more disruption to major transport links, one follower replied: "This feels like incredibly poor planning to have both roads and rails closed in the area at the same time.

"From an industry perspective, this weekend is a moment when people who usually drive might consider using another mode of transport. This is a chance for the railways to put their best foot forward and win new customers. Instead....."

Yahoo News has contacted SWR for comment.

Locals fear 'whole of North Surrey' will come to 'grinding halt'

Reporting from an overpass of the M25, journalist Simon Calder has said local people have told him their roads can barely cope with the school run, let alone an unprecedented closure of the M25.

With the M25 normally carrying up to 6,000 vehicles in each direction per hour, Calder said the closure could mean "100 cars, trucks and buses suddenly piling onto the lovely road" just near the area he was standing by.

He said that National Highways are worried that people frustrated with gridlocked traffic on the official diversion routes will switch on their satnavs and be directed down narrow and quiet country roads.

"You'll get the whole of North Surrey grinding to a halt," the Independent's travel correspondent added.

“Would you believe that between now and September there's going to be another four closures?” Residents fear the “whole of North Surrey” will come to a "grinding halt” as a five mile stretch of the M25 has been closed, explains @SimonCalder . @KaitBorsay | #TimesRadio pic.twitter.com/qIOlgD8i7S — Times Radio (@TimesRadio) March 16, 2024

M25 closure: Tips on driving as major delays expected this weekend

The AA has warned that while these roadworks are a "necessary evil", they will make the M25 "feel like a new level of hell".

“The M25 is the biggest bypass in Europe so any closure will potentially cause chaos," said AA president Edmund King.

"Hopefully, drivers will have heard the messages about the closure in advance and been able to adjust their plans accordingly, either by avoiding the area entirely, not driving or by choosing alternative routes."

With this in mind, the AA has offered some advice to help drivers "keep their cool" amid dire gridlocks, and the most effective way to drive in heavy traffic.

You can read the full story from Yahoo News here

Local businesses expect to lose customers this weekened due to closure

Business owners in areas along the M25 diversion route have had to make cuts to their services in anticipation of gridlocked traffic.

Mark Pollak, owner of Billy Tong, which caters for events and sells biltong at markets, said he expects to see 50% of the firm’s turnover for the weekend go “down the drain”.

Pollak said he had to refuse a request to cater an event in Guildford and had to cancel its stall at Surbiton Farmers’ Market on Saturday with staff not wanting to face expected traffic to get to jobs.

“It has a massive impact on my business,” he said. “I’ve cancelled events, I can’t get customers to come and collect stuff, I can’t get my staff to go to events.”

Ammara Kanwal, director of Code Kids, cancelled a coding club session due to take place at Cobham Free School on Saturday over fears she would not be able to make it there on time.

She said: “It was a bit of a disappointment. I am the one who cancelled, it was my business, so I am having to issue a refund for tomorrow.

“I mean, nobody wants to travel somewhere for two hours if it doesn’t take that long, it’s not fair.”

However, some businesses are not expecting to take too big a hit. For example, a staff member at the Black Prince in Addlestone said most of the pub's customers are local and within walking distance.

Motoring experts are warning that official estimates of congestion levels may be “optimistic” while local councillors in areas where motorway traffic will be diverted are anticipating “gridlock”.

Tom Cruise 'plans to fly Mission Impossible crew over M25 in helicopter'

Tom Cruise reportedly plans to avoid traffic chaos amid the M25 closure by flying his Mission Impossibe cast and crew over the bottleneck in a helicopter.

The 61-year-old actor is a trained pilot and The Sun reported on Friday that he is prepared to fly cast and crew to Longcross Studios to help progress filming of the eighth Mission Impossible film.

Cruise has been working at the filming location this week to try and meet a 2025 deadline for the next film, where he will again play agent Ethan Hunt, according to The Sun. The seventh film, Dead Reckoning Part One came out last year.

First daytime closure of stretch of M25 ‘going to be a nightmare’, councillor warns

The first planned daytime closure of the M25 today could be a “nightmare”, a councillor fears as local residents and businesses along the diversion route brace for the impact.

Daryl Jordan, of Woking Borough Council, said the Byfleet Road, which is close to junction 10, had been “chock-a-block” on Friday afternoon.

Warning that residents will be “affected massively”, he said: "It is pulling people apart,” the councillor told PA.

“I mean, you know, when you work full-time and then you’re going to get home tonight from work thinking ‘I must fill the fridge up’ and you can’t even get into your own village.

“It’s going to be a nightmare. Just going down the road to get milk is going to be a problem tomorrow or picking up your dry cleaning.”

Two miles of congestion on parts of M25 on first morning of closure

Up to two miles of congestion has built up on the M25 in Surrey this morning after the planned closure began last night.

National Highways South East (NHSE), in a post to X, formerly Twitter, said there were two miles of tailbacks on approach to the closure at junction 10 on Saturday morning.

the government-owned agency added: "If you do have to travel, please leave a lot of extra time."

Meanwhile, traffic has begun to build along the main diversion route through Byfleet, West Byfleet, Woking and Ottershaw.

National Highways estimated the average journey time along the diversion route was 25 minutes, assuring drivers of minimal congestion. An 11.5-mile diversion route has been created to direct motorway traffic along A roads.

M25 closure will see 'carnage' on diversion route, say villagers

Ahead of the planned closure on the M25, business owners and residents spoke to Yahoo News, predicting ‘carnage’, cancellations, disturbed sleep and ‘traffic everywhere’.

Read the full story from Yahoo News.

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Latest live M25 traffic news

Live m25 traffic reports, plus the latest news on m25 accidents, delays and congestion.

The M25 is quite possibly the most notorious motorway in the UK. With 117 miles of potential for congestion, roadworks, lane closures, delays, accidents, and incidents, London’s orbital motorway can prove utterly chaotic and unpredictable, especially during the rush hour, so it pays to plan ahead as much as you can with traffic updates. Fortunately, we’re here to help.

We’re not just making this up - a study conducted in 2017 recorded the average speed of traffic on the M25 at just 25mph - making it one of the slowest motorways to negotiate in the UK. A study in 2020 also estimated that over 170,000 vehicles use the western section of the M25 each day.

With these kinds of numbers, it probably comes as little surprise that journeys around London on the M25 are all too frequently frustrated by hold-ups and delays. The experience is no doubt worse for commuters, who have to endure the reports of M25 closures and accidents almost daily as they check their phone or listen to the radio during breakfast.

As a result of its popularity, the M25 has been consistently widened since it was completed as a three-lane orbital road in the late 1980s, but even the widest six-lane-per-carriageway sections can struggle to cope with the volume of traffic at times.

Scroll down to view all the latest traffic information on the M25 via our tailored Twitter feed, which pulls live information and updates from the Highways Agency, police forces and other traffic alert feeds. We’ve also got a a useful list of the motorway’s 31 junctions and some interesting M25 key traffic facts...

Live M25 Traffic updates 

M25 history

The idea of a London orbital road can be traced back to the 1930s but it wasn’t until the 1960s that moves were made to actually construct the road that would become the M25. The M25 was born out of the London Ringways plan which marked out four ring roads around the capital. 

Ringways 3 and 4 were built in the early 1970s. The first section was started in 1973 between South Mimms and Potters Bar and this would go on to become M25 junctions 23 to 24 as the roads were integrated into the modern M25.

The M25 first opened to traffic in 1986 as a complete ring road for London but traffic levels exceeded those for which it was designed almost immediately and in 1990 the Secretary of State for Transport announced plans to widen the whole road to four lanes. Traffic continued to increase and road works to widen the M25 have been an almost constant companion for motorists using the road ever since.

M25 junctions

M25 key traffic facts.

• The M25 is 117 miles long.
• The M25 is the second longest ring road in Europe after the Berliner Ring in Germany (122 miles).
• At its closest point, at Potters Bar in Hertfordshire, the M25 is 12.5 miles from Charing Cross in central London.
• At its furthest point, at Byfleet in Surrey, the M25 is 19.5 miles away from Charing Cross.
• There are 31 junctions on the M25, if you include Junctions 1A, 1B and 31 which are technically on the A282 at the Dartford Crossing.
• The M25 has sections in Kent (junctions 1A to 5), Surrey (junctions 6 to 14), Buckinghamshire (junctions 15 to 16), Hertfordshire (junctions 17 to 25) and Essex (junctions 26 to 31). 
• The M25’s busiest section is between junctions 14 and 15 near Heathrow Airport, handling an average of over 200,000 vehicles a day.

Tell us your M25 traffic tales in the comments section below... 

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Drivers 'choosing to ignore' official diversion route around M25 closure, say highways bosses

A seven-mile stretch of the M25 between junctions 9 and 10 is set to remain closed until 6am on Monday, however National Highways say they are making "good progress" on the work.

News reporter @thejournojames

Sunday 12 May 2024 07:30, UK

An "increasing number" of drivers are "choosing to ignore" the official diversion route around the M25 closure, highways bosses have warned.

National Highways say they are making "good progress" to install a new gantry and a new gyratory bridge between junctions 9 and 10 of the motorway.

The seven-mile stretch, through Surrey, closed at 9pm on Friday and is due to reopen at 6am on Monday, while the work takes place.

A planned 19-mile diversion route, which sends vehicles through parts of Surrey and Greater London , is in place during the closure.

However, National Highways say some drivers are not sticking to the route and are instead following another route specified for freight vehicles.

Simon Elliott, National Highways senior project manager, said: "It is important that drivers follow the diversion route in place."

The official clockwise route for non-freight vehicles involves drivers coming off at junction 8, before travelling along the A217, the A240, the A24, and the A3, before rejoining the M25 at junction 10.

Freight vehicles should continue on to junction 9 and travel towards Chessington on the A243 and then back towards junction 10 via the A307.

However, Mr Elliott said non-freight drivers were also using this route.

What are the diversion routes?

Diversion route clockwise 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 turn left onto the A3 Portsmouth, Guildford. Continue for 9½ miles to the M25 and re-join the motorway at junction 10.

Diversion route anticlockwise for all but over-height vehicles: Leave M25 at junction 10 to join the A3 towards London. After 9½ miles at the Hook 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.

"Coming off at junction 9 means non-freight drivers will end up travelling behind or alongside HGVs which is something we are actively trying to avoid and is likely to have a negative impact on travel times, congestion and the communities they pass through," he said.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

This weekend's closure is the second of five planned closures of the motorway, and comes after a section between junctions 10 and 11 was shut in March.

On that occasion, fears diversion routes would become overwhelmed proved unfounded, as traffic levels were more than two-thirds lower than normal after a widespread awareness campaign.

National Highways say this weekend's closure is to allow for the installation of a new bridge between junction 9 and junction 10.

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Read more: Everything you need to know ahead of the M25 closing Aerial pictures show calm amid M25 gridlock fears

The previous closure was to allow for the demolition of Clearmount bridleway bridge between junction 10 and junction 11 and the installation of a large gantry.

Three more weekend closures of the M25 are set to take place between August and the end of the year.

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M25 closure: Motorway reopens hours ahead of schedule following second full closure

• Monday 13 May 2024 at 5:23am

The M25 has reopened several hours ahead of schedule, following the second full closure of Britain's busiest motorway.

National Highways shut the route between junction 9 for Leatherhead and junction 10 for the A3, to install a new bridge and gantry.

The structures, part of a £317million investment, could only be installed under a full closure and the road was due to remain shut to traffic until 6am today (Monday 13 May).

Up to 270,000 vehicles pass through junction 10 each day, and National Highways says the works are essential to improve journeys for drivers and reduce congestion.

The closure was the second of five that will be put in place on the M25 at junction 10 over the next year.

Dates for the next three full closures have not yet been announced, but National Highways says it will provide details as soon as possible.

National Highways said on Saturday it was "all looking good" on the first full day of the weekend closure.

Four diversion routes were in place between Gatwick and Heathrow, two in either direction for regular traffic and two for overheight vehicles.

Surrey Highways reported on Sunday at about 1.20pm that there were major delays in West Byfleet along Parvis Road and told drivers to try and avoid the area.

It also said there was congestion in Leatherhead, Oxshott and in surrounding areas of Weybridge, Cobham and Walton On Thames.

At around 3pm, it added that traffic levels were “reducing but the roads around the M25 closure and the diversions are still busy.”

National Highways previously urged drivers to only travel the route if necessary, to avoid the closure and to complete their journeys in other ways if possible.

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M25 weekend closure: drivers told to stick to diversion to avoid London Ulez charges

Motorway will be shut both ways between junctions nine and 10 from 9pm on Friday until 6am on Monday

Drivers tempted to bypass the official diversion for this weekend’s M25 motorway closure have been warned of potential ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) charges if they stray off course.

The London orbital motorway is having its second ever planned closure , with a busy stretch in the south-west closed in both directions for works, potentially bringing long delays and congestion for thousands of drivers.

National Highways has urged motorists to avoid travel if possible or stick to the official diversions. Drivers of non-Ulez-compliant vehicles entering the clean air zone will not be charged as long as they stay on the marked route, but will otherwise be liable for the £12.50 charge if they follow their satnav for an attempted shortcut.

Only petrol vehicles more than 18 years old or diesels more than nine years old are normally liable for the charge, which was expanded to cover the whole of Greater London last year.

The M25 will be closed in both directions between junctions nine and 10 in Surrey from 9pm on Friday until 6am on Monday while concrete beams for a new bridge and a gantry are lifted into place.

The diversion for those who wish to rejoin the motorway runs for 19 miles along A-roads in Surrey and Greater London .

Jonathan Wade, a National Highways senior project manager, told the PA news agency: “Although the (Ulez) cameras will be active, no enforcement action will be taken. However, if you ignore the diversion signs and do your own thing, then if your vehicle’s not compliant, you do run the risk of getting caught.”

The traffic agency has urged drivers to follow the main route to minimise the risk of rural gridlock, with thousands of cars normally using the stretch of motorway every hour.

This weekend is the second of five planned closures of the M25 in a £317m works scheme, after the first ever planned daytime shutdown in March on the neighbouring stretch from junctions 10 to 11.

Fears that the zigzag diversion routes then used between Cobham and Woking would host epic jams were eventually unrealised, with only a third of the normal volumes of traffic using the roads after a widespread awareness campaign.

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However, Wade said there was a “very real” risk that the benign outcome of early March could make motorists complacent about the fresh warnings to reassess journeys.

Other stretches of the M25 will also be disrupted this weekend, with work to retrofit more emergency refuges on its sections designated as smart motorway with no hard shoulder.

The RAC also warned of more congested roads ahead, with this week’s national rail strikes potentially forcing more travellers into cars.

The M25 will close for three more weekends this year, with the next one scheduled for August. The works will increase the number of lanes and improve junction 10, one of Britain’s busiest motorway junctions.

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