M25 weekend closures: Map reveals every road affected, diversions and how to get around

Motorists have been left battling through diversions as the M25 lies closed this weekend, after they were warned to expect 'long delays'.

The seven-mile section of the motorway between junctions nine and ten in Surrey closed at 9pm last night and will not reopen until 6am on Monday, May 13 while concrete beams for a new bridge and gantry are lifted into place.

The closure between junction nine near Leatherhead and junction ten near Wisley will see motorists embark on a 19-mile diversion using the A3 and A243 via Epsom, Surbiton and Cobham – with taller vehicles including lorries taking a different route. 

This morning, eerie photos showed Britain's busiest motorway lying totally empty - with service stations and petrol stations usually frantic with commuters sitting like ghost towns. 

And traffic is already building on diversion routes as drivers are forced to travel around the motorway.

But drivers will have to be careful as they take the route through Greater London and into Surrey - as if they stray from the designated route they may find themselves with a £12.50 Ulex fine.

This is nearly double last month's 11.5-mile diversion during the first M25 closure on a different section of the road between junctions ten and 11 from March 15 to 18. 

There had been fears of traffic 'carmageddon' on those diversion routes - but many motorists followed advice to avoid the area, meaning long hold-ups were avoided. 

National Highways said this will be the second of five weekend closures of the London orbital motorway as part of a £317million project to improve junction ten. 

Officials also confirmed that drivers using the signed diversion route will not be subject to any Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) charges that may usually apply – although Ulez will remain in force on all other routes in London across the weekend. 

National Highways senior project manager Jonathan Wade warned that 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'. 

This closure is for the installation of a new bridge consisting of 68 beams, each weighing 16 tonnes, and another four beams weighing 40 tonnes.

Mr Wades said: '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.'

Among the people affected will be those travelling to, from and between the UK's two busiest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick.

The closure last month was the first planned daytime shutdown of the M25 since it opened in 1986.

The project, due to be completed in summer 2025, will increase the number of lanes at junction ten, which has been described as one of the UK's busiest and most dangerous motorway junctions.

Officials say the new junction layout to improve traffic flow, making it easier and safer to enter and exit the M25 and reduce pollution caused by traffic jams.

Between 4,000 and 6,000 vehicles normally use the M25 between junctions nine and 11 in each direction every hour from 10am until 9pm at weekends.

Up to 270,000 vehicles pass through this junction each weekday, making it one of the UK's busiest stretches of road.

A National Highways spokesman said: 'We expect long delays. We were so grateful to all drivers last time who made the closure a success by avoiding the stretch and completing their journeys in other ways. We urge drivers to do the same again. '

The clockwise diversion route, for those travelling from Gatwick towards Heathrow, will see drivers told to leave the M25 at junction eight for the A217 Reigate.

They should then follow the 'A217 London, Sutton, (A240) Kingston', and then after just over three miles turn left onto the 'A240 Epsom, Kingston'.

After three miles, at the Esso roundabout they should turn right onto the 'A24 (A240) Kingston' and continue for three miles then turn left onto the 'A3 Portsmouth, Guildford'. 

They must then continue for nearly ten miles to the M25 and re-join the motorway at junction ten.

In the other direction, the anticlockwise diversion route from Heathrow towards Gatwick will see traffic leave the M25 at junction ten to join the A3 towards London.

After nearly ten miles at the Hook interchange, motorists should leave the A3 turning right onto the 'A240 Epsom, Reigate'.

They must then continue for three miles to the Esso roundabout and turn left onto the 'A240 Reigate' – before driving for another three miles then turning right onto the 'A217 Reigate, M25'. After just over three miles they will turn left to re-join the M25 at junction eight.

National Highways said it was working with its delivery partner Balfour Beatty Atkins to liaise with the emergency services, Surrey County Council, local businesses and Gatwick and Heathrow airports in the lead up to the next closure.

A spokesman added: 'Local residents, holidaymakers, concertgoers and sports fans should plan their journeys in advance and make sure they allow extra time or make alternative travel arrangements.'

National Highways intends to close the M25 for three more weekends this year, but has confirmed there will be no weekend closures in June.

The remaining closures will take place between July and December – with dates not expected to be announced until after the closure next month.

The RAC advised motorists to avoid travelling if possible and pack extra food and drink if they do, as the closures are likely to bring long delays for thousands of drivers.

Alice Simpson, RAC breakdown spokesperson, said: 'As this next M25 weekend closure immediately follows major national rail strikes which could see many more people take to the roads, it could be up to six days of disrupted travel for London's drivers.

'The closures also coincide with the retrofitting of new emergency areas on all-lane-running stretches of the M25, meaning delays are likely between junctions 5 and 7 in Surrey and Kent and junctions 23-27 in Hertfordshire and Essex.

'With weekend temperatures reaching 25 degrees or even higher, it's likely that routes around the 23-mile diversion will be busy as people make the most of the fine weather and jump in the car for day trips.

'Anyone heading to Chessington World of Adventures, which is close to the official A3 diversion route, should expect delays and pack extra food and drink in the event they're on the road longer than expected.

'Holidaymakers heading to Gatwick or Heathrow should leave an hour earlier than usual and allow plenty of time for parking and security checks.'