M25 Reopens Early – Motorists Breath a Huge Sigh of Relief!
M25 Back Open Eight Hours Ahead of Schedule
The M25 in Surrey has sprung back to life a full eight hours earlier than planned, easing a weekend nightmare for drivers. The busy five-mile stretch between junctions 10 and 11 had been shut since Friday night at 9 pm. Originally, the closure was meant to last until 5:30 am Monday to allow for a bridge demolition and a massive gantry installation. But in a surprise twist, the motorway was fully reopened just after 10 pm Sunday, restoring traffic flow in both directions.
Gridlock Fears Dispelled – Traffic Surprisingly Smooth
Drivers feared bumper-to-bumper chaos during the shutdown, especially over the weekend. Initially, there was some congestion, but traffic on alternative routes through Byfleet, West Byfleet, Woking, and Ottershaw flowed far better than expected. Amanda Boote from 1 Borough Council admitted,
“It’s been a lot better than we expected, it’s not gridlocked in the way that we thought it would be.”
Historic Shutdown and Ambitious Roadworks
This was the first planned daytime closure of the M25 since it opened in 1986. National Highways South-East confirmed good progress during the first 24 hours, with a crane-guided gantry installation captured on camera Sunday morning. An 11.5-mile diversion via A-roads helped keep the traffic moving and cut down on jams.
More Disruptions Ahead as Improvements Roll On
The M25 is notorious for heavy congestion, especially between junctions 9 and 11 – key routes for Heathrow and Gatwick travellers. And there’s more pain to come: four further daytime closures are scheduled through to September as work continues. The £XXX million project aims to boost safety and ease snarls at the perilous Junction 10, with completion expected by summer 2025.
