National Highways warns of major delays as it prepares to close M25 twice in March

Announcing the closures, National Highways revealed that the M25 will be closed in both directions between junction 10 at Wisley and at junction 11 at Woking, between 7 and 10 March, as well as from 21 until 24 March, to demolish and remove old bridges. 

The works are part of a £317m three-year upgrade project, which is due to complete this summer. The scheme aims to ease congestion at the M25 junction 10 and A3 Wisley interchange, which is the busiest section of the M25, with over 300,000 vehicles travelling through it every day.

This sheer volume of traffic means vehicles often start queuing northbound between Ockham Park roundabout and the M25 junction 10 roundabout, and on the approach to the Painshill roundabout. 

Announcing these latest closures, the agency said: “We’re grateful to all drivers who avoided previous closures and completed their journeys in other ways” and urged drivers to do the same again for these latest closures.

It has also warned drivers who do travel during these closures to expect delays and to give more time for their journeys.

During the works, drivers travelling clockwise will be diverted from the M25 at junction 10 to join the A3 northbound at Painshill, taking the A245 and then the A320 to rejoin the M25 at junction 11.

Those drivers travelling anti-clockwise from junction 11 to junction 10 will be diverted from the M25 at junction 11 to join the A320 southound, taking the A245 to Painshill where they will take the A3 southbound to rejoin the M25 at junction 10.

National Highways is also advising that the closure can be avoided by taking the M25 via the Dartford Crossing, which it said “may also be quicker”.

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “Without careful planning, drivers could face some really lengthy tailbacks during the eight days of M25 closures that start this weekend. We expect diversion routes, especially along the A3, to become heavily congested.

“Anyone with a ticket to see England’s World Cup qualifying match at Wembley on Friday 21 March should be aware that the fixture clashes with one of the road closures. We’d advise drivers to set off very early, especially if heading to the venue from Sussex and Kent. Public transport will also be extremely busy.

“Those that do decide to drive on either weekend should prepare to spend much longer on the roads and make sure they have plenty of fuel or charge for their trips. It’s also important to do some vehicle checks to avoid a breakdown: ensure tyres are in good condition and inflated to the correct pressure and that oil and coolant are at the right levels.”

Logistics management and supply chain solutions expert Descartes is advising operators to equip their drivers with advanced route optimisation software and to use artificial intelligence to help minimise delays and disruption to their fleets’ journeys, when faced with these types of closures.

Andrew Tavener, Descartes head of fleet marketing, said: “Road works and unforeseen incidents on the road have the potential to disrupt planned delivery schedules and have a knock-on negative impact on customers. However, advanced route optimisation software can make effective routes around published roadworks to maintain the planned delivery schedule.”

He added: “Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning can also be used to amend routes and delivery schedules based on what actually happens on planned routes, enabling the software to route around delay hot spots such as locations where parents drop off their children for school at 8.30 am.”