Drivers face fresh delays as M25 to shut for second full weekend

There are warnings that drivers will face fresh delays next month after a second full weekend closure of the M25 was announced.

A section of the M25 was closed last month while a bridge was demolished. Pic: PA

It comes just a few weeks after a nearby section was shut so a bridge could be demolished in what was the motorway’s first-ever planned daytime closure since it opened in 1986.

Traffic builds up in Cobham, Surrey, near a closed section of the M25 between junctions 10 and 11 on 16 March. Pic: PA

From 9pm on Friday 10 May until 6am on Monday 13 May, a seven-mile stretch between junctions 9 and 10 in Surrey will be shut in both directions.

This will be carried out so concrete beams for a new bridge and gantry can be lifted into place.

It will be the second of five weekend planned closures of the motorway – which encircles London – as part of a £317m project to improve J10.

The scheme, due to be completed in summer 2025, will increase the number of lanes at J10, which is one of the country’s busiest and most dangerous motorway junctions.

Among the people affected in May are set to be those travelling to, from and between the UK’s two busiest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick.

There were fears of severe congestion on diversion routes along A roads ahead of the first closure of a five-mile stretch between J10 and J11 in March.

But many drivers followed advice to avoid the area, meaning long hold-ups were avoided.

National Highways senior project manager Jonathan Wade has warned the next shutdown will be “far from a repeat of the previous closure” as the diversion routes are “longer and will be different for over-height vehicles and all other traffic”.

He added: “Drivers listened to our advice last time which reduced motorway traffic levels by over two-thirds and meant delays were limited.

“Our advice again is please only travel if absolutely necessary and make sure you give yourself extra time if you do choose to use the M25.”

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The stretch between J9 and J11 is normally used by 4,000 to 6,000 vehicles in each direction every hour from 10am until 9pm at weekends.