Drivers face travel chaos as a string of motorway closures come into force across the country

• Motorists travelling on the M25, M4, and M1 are expecting to face long queues

By Cameron Roy[1]

Published: 18:53, 21 July 2024 | Updated: 19:08, 21 July 2024

Drivers are bracing themselves for travel chaos as a string of major motorway closures come into force across the country today.

Motorists travelling on the M25, M4, and M1 are expecting to face long queues as numerous diversions are put in place over the next four days.

National Highways has warned those travelling along the busy routes to be cautious of overnight closures from 8pm until 6am until Wednesday, July 24.

People planning on travelling on Britain's busiest motorway, the M25 London[2] ring road, will be especially disappointed to find out about the plans as the road has already faced closures a few times earlier this year[3].

The frequent diversions have come into place as GBP317 million plans to build a new gyratory bridge south of the Junction 10 roundabout by Summer 2025 forge ahead.

Motorists travelling on the M25, M4, and M1 are expecting to face long waits as several diversions are put in place over the next four days.

Pictured: Drivers queue on the M25 in June

National Highways has warned those travelling along the busy routes to be cautious of overnight closures from 8pm until 6am until Wednesday, July 24

The frequent diversions have come into place as GBP317 million plans to build a new gyratory bridge south of the Junction 10 roundabout by Summer 2025 forge ahead.

Pictured: An overhead view shows work ongoing at Junction 10 in March

National Highways said the structure will add extra lanes and boost safety while reducing congestion.

Although there won't be closures lasting the full weekend as there have been previously, there will still be major restrictions.

Motorists travelling on the key road from tonight will find clockwise and anti-clockwise Junction 27 link road to M11 Southbound Junction 6 closed due to for jacking and de-jacking.

The route will be cordoned off from 8.30pm until 5.30am.

Elsewhere, Junction 8 to Junction 9 clockwise is scheduled to be shut down for resurfacing work with diversion signs in place to help drivers navigate the closure - which runs from 10.30pm until 5.30am.

Meanwhile, on the M1, motorists are set to see a carriageway closure on Junction 18 southbound, which is located south of Leicester.

Another carriageway closure is present from Junction 31 to Junction 30 southbound for reconstruction works, which is located east of Sheffield.

Workmen on the section of the M25 between junctions 10 and 11 in Surrey on March 16 when it was closed in both directions while a bridge was demolished and a new gantry installed

A look at the empty M25 near Cobham services after it closed down between May 10 to 6am Monday, May 13

And yet more disruption is expected on Junction 35a and Junction 42 southbound, located north of Sheffield, from 9.15pm to 6am.

Also facing delays are motorists hoping to use the M4.

They have been warned to factor in diversion routes at Junction 4b eastbound to M25 Junction 15 both clockwise and anticlockwise, due to upgrade works, which will remain in place from 10.30pm to 5.30am.

Potential travel chaos could be seen on the M25 next week too, as the clockwise and anti-clockwise link roads to M40 Northbound is planning carriageway closures on Monday.

Alternative routes will be operational from 10pm until 6am.

Meanwhile, drivers behind the wheel from Junction 20, Junction 21, Junction 28 and Junction 29 clockwise are set to find several closures.

Carriageways will be blocked off for resurfacing works from 10pm to 5.30am.

And during the same hours, tunnel works at Junction 27 to Junction 25 anti-clockwise are due to send motorists on diversions.

Traffic builds up on the A320 St Peter's Way crossing the M25 during the closure on March 16

More resurfacing works will be underway at Junction 8 to Junction 9 clockwise, and Junction 11 to Junction 10 anti-clockwise, with alternate routes in place again from 10pm to 5.30am.

The final diversion on Monday will be encountered at the Junction 24 exit slip road clockwise.

Meanwhile on the M1, closures will be operational from southbound Junction 28 to Junction 27 carriageway.

Elsewhere, the M4 is set to see diversions in place at the Junction 5 exit slip road eastbound for planned barrier repairs.

The planned closures come after drivers were warned 'only travel if absolutely necessary' on the M25 only a few weeks ago for more closures.

The works caused chaos at the time, hitting England fans heading to Germany for the Euros final and holidaymakers travelling to or from Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

It also disrupted the journeys of music fans heading to and from London for festivals such as Wireless and British Summer Time.

There were fears of severe congestion on diversion routes ahead of the first two closures in March and May, but many drivers followed advice to avoid the area, meaning long hold-ups were avoided.

A closed section of the M25 on March 17 for works to remove a bridge and install a new gantry

National Highways senior project manager Jonathan Wade said earlier this month: 'The previous two closures have gone well, with significant progress being made during both.

'We would urge all drivers to follow the official diversion route as this is the best chance of reaching your destination in good time.

'Please ignore your satnavs and follow our diversion route instead.'

National Highways is concerned that satnavs could direct some drivers on to minor roads after leaving the M25, creating gridlock in residential areas.

The March closure 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 10, which is one of the UK's busiest and most dangerous motorway junctions.

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

For full details of road closures, visit the National Highways website[4].

References

1. ^ Cameron Roy (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ few times earlier this year (www.dailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ National Highways website (nationalhighways.co.uk)