A £317 million M25 project which has caused severe congestion for several years has been delayed by around nine months because of "extreme weather". Since 2022, work has been ongoing to add extra lanes on Junction 10 of the motorway in Surrey. Although it was initially scheduled to end this summer it will now not finish until spring next year. It means a stretch of the motorway will be fully or partially-closed again on two full weekends in March, National Highways said.
National Highways senior project manager Jonathan Wade said: "Periods of extreme weather in 2024 delayed some elements of our work but since then we've worked hard to recoup that time and still complete the on-road elements on schedule. "We are already seeing some of the benefits of this project, which will help reduce congestion, create a smoother flow of traffic and provide safer journeys for thousands every day.".
The motorway will be closed between Junctions 10 and 11 from 9pm on Friday March 7 and 6am on Monday March 10, and over the same period a fortnight later. Among the people affected will be many of those travelling to and from Heathrow and Gatwick airports. National Highways said the closure was to allow the demolition and removal of two old bridges as part of the scheme. The planned closures have raised fears of gridlock in residential areas as motorists avoid the area.
Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said: "Motorists who've grown used to the queues and closures associated with this scheme must now brace themselves for another summer, autumn and winter of discontent as the completion of work slips into 2026.". But Mr Wade said it was the “final block of closures” on the M25 and urged motorists to rely on official diversion routes rather than sat-nav routes through minor roads.
