M25 junction project delayed by 'extreme weather'

A long-running project to improve the M25 around a junction in Surrey has been delayed by about nine months due to "periods of extreme weather".

Since 2022, National Highways has been working to add extra lanes around Junction 10, where the motorway meets the A3.

The work had been due to be completed in the summer, but will now finish in the spring of 2026.

A stretch of the motorway will be fully or partially-closed again on two full weekends in March, National Highways said.

Senior project manager Jonathan Wade said: "Periods of extreme weather in 2024 delayed some elements of our work but since then we've worked hard to recoup that time and still complete the on-road elements on schedule."

The motorway will be closed in both directions over the weekends of 7 to 10 and 21 to 24 March for old bridges to be demolished and removed.

The closures will start at 21:00 GMT on each Friday and be lifted by 06:00 GMT on each Monday.

Following this, the A3 will be closed northbound between junction 10 and the A245 at the Cobham roundabout between 11 and 14 April.

The March 2024 closure was the first planned daytime shutdown of the M25 since it opened in 1986.

The work is being carried out as part of a £317m project to improve junction 10, the busiest section of the M25, which sees more than 300,000 vehicles pass through each day.

The work has included the installation of several structures for pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders, and the UK's first heathland bridge, to provide a safe corridor for wildlife.

Mr Wade said: "This is the final block of closures on the M25.

"Unfortunately, it's simply not possible to carry out this scale of infrastructure improvement, which will benefit millions of people in the long term, without there being some degree of short-term disruption.

"We have spent months planning these closures, but they will still cause significant congestion and delays, so we are asking road users to allow extra time and use alternative routes where possible."

Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said: "Motorists who've grown used to the queues and closures associated with this scheme must now brace themselves for another summer, autumn and winter of discontent as the completion of work slips into 2026.

"The fact that drivers are being promised no more closures after March this year will bring some glimmer of sunshine.

"In return they'll be hoping fair weather sees the scheme finished to its revised schedule, if not sooner."

Additional reporting by PA Media.

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