Why is the M25 closed this weekend?

THE first ever planned daytime closure of the M25 will take place this weekend.

Here’s everything you need to know about when, where and why.

1

Why is the M25 closed?

National highways are closing the stretch of the M25 while a bridge is demolished and a new portal installed.

It is the first planned daytime closure of the highway London – since opening in 1986.

Modeling carried out as the plans were being developed estimated that motorists would face delays of up to five hours without mitigation measures being implemented – such as urging motorists to stay away and creating diversion routes.

However, National Highways believes that only around an hour of travel will be added due to the steps it has taken, which is based on a 50% reduction in traffic.

Project leader Jonathan Wade warned motorists not to try to find a faster and shorter route.

He said navigation systems would take them to smaller roads, making life a misery for the people living in the area.

Please don’t travel if you can avoid it

Jonathan Wade

He told the PA news agency: “How many people will take the initiative and try to use sat navs?

‘There is probably a greater risk of traffic congestion if people just do their own thing and think they might be able to avoid the signs and find a shorter or faster route.

“That will cause further congestion at some of the key junctions so please avoid that if at all possible.”

He added: “Because it is so unprecedented, we have nothing to compare it to.”

“There has never been a closure of this nature. We really can’t be sure how many people will heed the messages we’ve given.

“It is currently very difficult to determine how effective all our traffic management will be.

“Please don’t travel if you can avoid it.”

When is the M25 open?

After closing at 9 p.m. on Friday, March 15, 2024, the section of the M25 shall will remain inaccessible until 6 a.m. on MondayMarch 18, 2024.

Concerns have been raised that thousands of drivers could be stuck in traffic jams traffic over the weekend during the unprecedented closure.

But some people don’t have time to wait for it to open again – Tom Cruise plans to use helicopters to fly cast and crew across the closed M25 in a daring attempt to film Mission Impossible 8.

Which intersections are affected?

The five kilometer long stretch of motorway affected by the closure is between junctions 10 and 11 in Surrey.

It is closed in both directions.

The M25 normally carries 4,000 to 6,000 vehicles in each direction per hour from 10am to 9pm on weekends between junctions 9 and 11.

There will be four more daily closures of the highway through September.

The project, due to be completed in summer 2025, will increase the number of lanes, making it easier to enter and leave the M25 at Junction 10 – one of the Britain‘s busiest and most dangerous highway interchanges.