M25 closure: Full details of Surrey diversions during motorway closure - or go around 'in other direction'

For the first time since the M25 opened in 1986, part of the motorway will be completely shut in a planned daytime closure this month and details of the diversion routes have been announced.

The five-mile stretch of motorway between junction 11 at Chertsey and junction 12 with the A3 will first be closed from 9pm on Friday, March 15 until 6am on Monday March 18.

More than 200,000 vehicles are expected to be impacted. Between junctions 9 and 11, the M25 normally carries between 4,000 and 6,000 vehicles in each direction per hour from 10am until 9pm on weekends.

The work is part of a £317 million improvement project and National Highways said the action is necessary to enable a bridge to be demolished and a new gantry to be installed. The project will increase the number of lanes to make it easier to enter and exit the M25 at junction 10.

Dates for four further closures have yet to be announced.

M25 closure diversions

The M25 between junctions 10 and 11 will be closed in both directions from 9pm on Friday March 15 to 6am Monday 18 March.

The following local diversion route will be in place:

• Junction 10 - Northbound A3 to Painshill Junction, A245 towards Woking, and then A320 to M25 Junction 11.
• Junction 11 - A320 south towards Woking, A245 towards Byfleet and Painshill junction, Southbound A3 to Junction 10.

The National Highways website adds: "Taking the M25 in the other direction to avoid our closure is also an option.

"Either way, if you do travel, please leave a lot of extra time for your journey."

Get the latest headlines, straight to your inbox, with LondonWorld’s free emails

National Highways

National Highways project lead Jonathan Wade said: “Drivers should only use the M25 if their journey is absolutely necessary. This is the first of five full closures of one of the busiest junctions on our road network.

“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. These improvements will bring long-term benefits to drivers who pass through this stretch of the M25, not to mention pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders who will also see positive changes in the area.”

RAC Foundation

Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said: “For drivers who’ve already had their patience tried by the queues at the junction 10 works, the phrase ‘you ain’t seen nothing yet’ springs to mind.

“National Highways’ plea for people to avoid driving in the area applies not just to trips on the M25 but also to those on surrounding local roads onto which the M25 traffic will be diverted.

“The hope must be that drivers take great care, however frustrating the delays and disruption might be. The last thing we need is shunts or crashes, however minor, because the slightest mishap will compound the misery.”