M25 diversion map shows routes drivers must take during weekend closure
National Highways has closed the road in both directions of the motorway between Junctions 9 in Leatherhead and 10 in Wisley until 6am on Monday.
Motorists were urged to continue using diversion routes in place while the M25 was closed over the weekend, as National Highways said roadworks on the major route were “progressing well”.
The motorway – which is Britain’s busiest – has been closed in both directions between junctions 9 and 10 in Surrey since 9pm on Friday while concrete beams for a new bridge are installed, with closures remaining in place until 6am on Monday.
Motorists had been warned of lengthy delays over the weekend, coinciding with temperatures soaring to in parts of south-east England, including around London. The closures were expected to impact thousands of motorists: at weekends, between 4,000 and 6,000 vehicles use the M25 between Junctions 9 and 11 in each direction every hour from 10am until 9pm.
Diversion routes were put in place, taking cars on a 19-mile journey on A roads, crossing from Surrey into London’s Ulez area.
On Sunday in a post on X, National Highways said that “work is progressing well” and urged drivers to “please follow the official diversion routes to manage traffic flow effectively”.
Ahead of the closures, National Highways has urged motorists to follow four diversion routes around Surrey and south-west London. These can be seen in the map above and take cars on a 19-mile journey on A roads, crossing from Surrey into London’s Ulez area.
National Highways has assured drivers “no enforcement action will be taken” but said anyone who ignores official diversion signs in an attempt to find shorter alternative routes will be liable for the £12.50 daily Ulez fee if their vehicle does not meet minimum emissions standards.
Failure to pay the charge when required can result in a £180 fine, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.
Here are the agency's instructions for each route.
Diversion route clockwise (from Gatwick towards Heathrow) for most traffic:
Leave the M25 at junction 8, A217 (Reigate). Follow the A217 London, Sutton, (A240) Kingston. After 3½ miles turn left onto the A240 Epsom, Kingston. After 3 miles at the Esso roundabout, turn right onto the A24 (A240) Kingston. Continue for 3 miles and turn left onto the A3 Portsmouth, Guildford. Continue for 9½ miles to the M25 and re-join the motorway at junction 10.
Diversion route clockwise (from Gatwick towards Heathrow) for over height vehicles (over 4.6m):
Leave the M25 at junction 9 A243 (Leatherhead). Follow A243 London, Hook, Chessington. After 6 miles, turn left onto the A309 Esher, Staines, (A3) Guildford, Portsmouth. After 1½ miles turn left to the A307 Esher, Guildford A3. After 4½ miles, in Cobham, turn right onto the A245 M25, Guildford A3, Weybridge, Woking. After ½ mile turn left onto the A3 Portsmouth Guildford. Continue for 1 mile and re-Join the motorway at J10.
Diversion route anticlockwise (from Heathrow towards Gatwick) for most traffic:
Leave the M25 at junction 10 to join the A3 towards London. After 9½ miles at the Hook interchange leave the A3 turning right onto the A240 Epsom, Reigate. Continue for 3 miles to the Esso roundabout and turn left onto the A240 Reigate. Continue for 3 miles then turn right onto the A217 Reigate, M25. After 3½ miles turn left to re-join the M25 motorway at junction 8.
Diversion route anticlockwise (from Heathrow towards Gatwick) for over height vehicles (over 4.6m):
Leave the M25 at junction 10 to join the A3 towards London. After 1 mile at the Painshill interchange leave the A3 turning right onto the A245 Cobham (A307 Esher). After ½ mile turn left onto the A307 Esher. Continue for 4½ miles then turn right onto the A309 London, Sutton. Continue for a further 2 miles to the Hook interchange and turn right onto the A243 Dorking. After 6 miles, turn left to re-join the M25 motorway at junction 9.
M25 closure dates: When will the motorway be closed in 2024?
This is the second of five weekend closures of the M25, which encircles London, as part of a £317m project to improve Junction 10. The first happened last month.
This particular closure between Junctions 9 and 10 will be in place from 9pm on Friday, 10 May until 6am on Monday, 13 May. It will see workers lift into place concrete beams for a new bridge and gantry.
We don't know exactly when the third, fourth and fifth closures will take place, but National Highways has said they are "due between July and the end of the year".
Read more
What we know about the next M25 closure in May (Yahoo News UK)
How bad was the M25 traffic during the first closure? (Yahoo News UK)
