The M25’s closure for the junction 10 upgrade ended ahead of schedule, reopening 7 hours early.
- This marks the third of five planned closures for the £317M junction 10 upgrade in Surrey.
- The closure facilitated the installation of a new bridge and 45m superspan gantry at Junction 10.
- The upgrade aims to improve traffic flow and safety by increasing lanes and adding a wildlife bridge.
- Completion is expected by summer 2025 as part of a £24bn national road strategy.
The M25 motorway in Surrey experienced an early reopening, seven hours ahead of the planned schedule, following an extensive weekend closure for the ongoing £317M junction 10 upgrade. This closure, the third in a sequence of five, enabled significant construction activities, including the installation of a new bridge on the western gyratory at Junction 10, as well as two overhead gantries, one being a 45-metre superspan gantry across the entire width of the M25.
National Highways orchestrated the closure between Junction 10 (A3 Wisley) and Junction 11 (Chertsey) starting from 9pm on Friday, July 12. Originally scheduled to reopen at 6am on July 15, the motorway was returned to service by 10.45pm the previous night, owing to the swift and efficient work conducted by the Balfour Beatty AtkinsRéalis joint venture.
The new infrastructure includes 72 beams for the bridge, each weighing 16 tonnes, complemented by four beams each weighing 40 tonnes. These components are part of a broader initiative to enhance the junction’s capacity and ensure smoother traffic movement by increasing lane numbers. This effort is aligned with the government’s comprehensive £24bn Road Investment Strategy (RIS2).
Enhancements at the junction are also designed to facilitate better access to key areas such as Wisley, Pyrford, and RHS Garden Wisley. A notable aspect of the upgrade is the addition of the Cockrow Green Bridge, a heathland bridge aimed at providing a safe corridor for wildlife between Ockham and Wisley Commons, underscoring the project’s attention to environmental considerations.
Junction 10 is a critical node within the M25 network, handling between 4,000 to 6,000 vehicles per hour on weekends and about 270,000 vehicles every weekday. Hence, the improved infrastructure is pivotal for maintaining efficient traffic management.
National Highways’ project lead Jonathan Wade expressed gratitude towards all stakeholders, noting the effective reduction of traffic disruption due to public adherence to diversion advisories. Balfour Beatty’s project director Howard Williams commended the teamwork and public cooperation that facilitated the early reopening, highlighting the meticulous planning and effort that ensured the operation’s success.
The early reopening of the M25 reflects efficient project coordination and marks progress in enhancing regional transport infrastructure.
