The M25 motorway in Surrey has reopened a full eight hours earlier than originally planned, providing relief to motorists who had anticipated severe weekend traffic disruptions. The closure affected a busy five-mile stretch between junctions 10 and 11, which had been shut since 9 pm on Friday night.
The shutdown was initially scheduled to last until 5:30 am on Monday to allow for a bridge demolition and the installation of a large gantry. However, in a surprising development, the motorway was fully reopened just after 10 pm on Sunday, restoring traffic flow in both directions much sooner than expected.
Drivers had feared heavy congestion and bumper-to-bumper traffic during the closure, especially over the weekend. While there was some initial congestion, traffic on alternative routes through Byfleet, West Byfleet, Woking, and Ottershaw flowed more smoothly than anticipated. Amanda Boote from 1 Borough Council commented, “It’s been a lot better than we expected, it’s not gridlocked in the way that we thought it would be.”
This closure marked the first planned daytime shutdown of the M25 since its opening in 1986. National Highways South-East reported good progress during the first 24 hours of the works, with a crane-guided gantry installation captured on camera Sunday morning. An 11.5-mile diversion using A-roads helped maintain traffic movement and reduce jams.
The M25 is well known for heavy congestion, particularly between junctions 9 and 11, which are key routes for travellers to Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Further disruptions are expected, with four additional daytime closures planned through to September as the improvement works continue.
The ongoing £XXX million project aims to enhance safety and reduce traffic snarls at the hazardous Junction 10. Completion of the work is anticipated by summer 2025.
Originally published by UKNIP.
