The diversion route will be via junction 10 of the M23, A264, A22, rejoin at junction 6 M25. [10][11] The interchange with the M23 motorway near Reigate is a four-level stack; one of only a few examples in Britain. [10], To the west, the M25 passes close to the edge of Heathrow, and within sight of Windsor Castle. [81] The second section, between Junctions 23 (A1/A1(M)) and 27 (M11), began construction in February 2013 and was completed and opened in November 2014. This stretch of the M23 is heavily used by traffic travelling to and from Gatwick Airport and between Brighton and London, especially during UK … [46] A 58-page brochure was published, commemorating the completion of the motorway. Junctions 1A–5 are in Kent, 6–14 are in Surrey, 15–16 are in Buckinghamshire, 17–25 are in Hertfordshire, and 26–31 are in Essex. [87], Traffic on the M25 is monitored by Connect Plus Services on behalf of Highways England. [4] It was financed as part of the development of Maidenbower by the construction consortium. Southbound traffic is being urged to use the A23 and rejoin the M23 and junction 9A for Gatwick. These purposefully slow traffic down in the event of congestion or an obstruction and help manage the traffic flow. The M25 was one of the first motorway projects to consider environmental concerns and almost 40 public inquiries took place. [21][73], In 2009, a £6.2 billion M25 DBFO private finance initiative contract[74] was awarded to Connect Plus to widen the sections between Junctions 16 to 23 and 27 to 30, and maintain the M25 and the Dartford Crossing for a 30-year period. [75], Work to widen the section between Junctions 16 (M40) and 23 (A1(M)) to dual four lanes[76] started in July 2009 at an estimated cost of £580 million. There are concerns about the loss of woodland required. It seems that road-naming customs are to blame, and if there was an M24, it would probably be quite tricky to construct. The first, at South Mimms, was opened by Margaret Thatcher in June 1987, a week before the election. [90] The scheme was originally trialled between Junctions 10 and 16, and was made a permanent fixture in 1997. Upcoming M25 Major Roadworks. [43] The route under the Chalfont Viaduct meant the motorway was restricted to a width of three lanes in each direction. Junctions 1A–5 are in Kent, 6–14 are in Surrey, 15–16 are in Buckinghamshire, 17–25 are in Hertfordshire, and 26–31 are in Essex. The rivalry between Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace football clubs is often referred to as the M23 Derby. [9] From here to Junction 8, the M25 follows the edge of the North Downs close to several historic buildings such as Chevening, Titsey Place, Hever Castle and Chartwell. Status : Pending. With the London ringway proposal falling flat in 1972, the plans for the M23 scaled right back to coincide with the build of the M25 between 1972 and 1975. [54] It was cancelled shortly afterwards. [14] To avoid the threat of road protesters, the ceremony was held a quarter of a mile from the nearest bridge. The nearby Holmesdale Tunnel was widened to three lanes in an easterly direction, and an additional left-turn lane added from the A10 onto the motorway. Coach tours were organised for a trip around the new road. The M23 and a section of the M25 have been closed in both directions after a horror crash involving three cars killed a motorcyclist this afternoon. [82], In December 2016, Highways England completed the capacity project at Junction 30 (Thurrock) as part of the Thames Gateway Delivery Plan. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Motorway Incident Detection and Automatic Signalling, "Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 2 : Primary Routes", "Get across the Dartford crossing by bike", "10 reasons why a lap of the M25 is Britain's ultimate road trip", "Coach tour of the M25 – a great day out", "Poll says M25 is London's "natural boundary, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe 2016, "M25: The best of Britain's most hated motorway", "Rising costs put the brakes on dozens of roadbuilding projects", "Minister gives green light to widen M25", "Plans to widen M25 to 12 lanes under attack", "BAA makes plans for Terminal 5 despite inquiry", "£75 Million Refurbishment for M25 Holmesdale Tunnel and Junction 25 Improvement work starts on Saturday 6 May", "M25 Junction 28 / A12 / Brook Street Interchange", "Highways Agency announces shortlist for £4.5bn M25 DBFO", "Highways Agency calls for M25 widening bids to be resubmitted", "Cost escalation hits M25 widening benefit to cost ratios", "Ministers scrap plan to widen motorways", "PFI deal for M25 agreed despite price rise", "£6.2 billion M25 Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract awarded", "Weekly Summary of Roadworks in M25 Sphere – 30 September 2009", "M25 Junctions 23 to 27 Managed Motorways", "M25 Junction 30 A13 corridor relieving congestion scheme", "M25 junction officially open after £100million upgrade", "RHS Wisley's 'last chance' to save 'irreplaceable' trees from M25-A3 scheme", "Carillion Traffic Management – Body Worn Cameras", Report (HC 15, 2004–05): Tackling congestion by making better use of England's motorways and trunk roads (Full Report), "Dartford Crossing to get tunnel and bridge closures as Dart Charge introduced and gantries installed near QEII bridge", "Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing toll charges to rise", "Dartford River Crossing Study into Capacity Requirement", "London to get new road tunnel under River Thames within decade, promises Boris Johnson", "Boris can't put off a new Thames crossing in the east", "Surrey Constabulary: Part 4: A Policing Revolution: 1976–1992", "Kenneth Noye: Notorious M25 killer to be moved to open prison", "M25 killer Kenneth Noye to be freed from prison", "M25 killer Kenneth Noye released from prison", "Horses break loose on motorway after horsebox crash on M25", "A horse involved in a crash on the M25 was led to safety", "Programme Information – Network Radio Week 43", "M25 turns 30 : Ten facts about "Britain's Biggest Car Park. [43] After a length inquiry process, chaired by George Dobry QC, the transport minister Kenneth Clarke announced the motorway would be built as proposed. Patrick Abercrombie had proposed an orbital motorway around London in the 1944 Greater London Plan, which evolved into the London Ringways project in the early 1960s. [64], In 2007, Junction 25 (A10/Waltham Cross) was remodelled to increase capacity. It has only a northbound slip road, no southbound access. The road was constructed to motorway standards and opened in October 1976. The crossing consists of twin two-lane tunnels and the four-lane QE2 (Queen Elizabeth II) bridge. Diversion for Gatwick will be Junction 10 M23, A2011, A23, Airport Way and into Gatwick Airport. [113] Nevertheless, coach tours around the M25 have continued to run into the 21st century. The upgrades include an all-lane-running motorway, 12 new emergency areas, a new concrete central barrier replacing the current steel one, new roadside sound barriers, variable speed limits and two new emergency access slip roads. In 2003, a maximum of 196,000 vehicles a day were recorded on the motorway just south of Heathrow between junctions 13 and 14. [130] The second, Clacket Lane, was opened by Robert Key, Minister for Roads and Traffic, on 21 July 1993. [94] In 2009 the Department for Transport published options for a new Lower Thames Crossing to add capacity to the Dartford Crossing or create a new road and crossing linking to the M2 and M20 motorways. Changes were also implemented on the M23 J9 Spur, with the hard shoulder west bound converted to a running lane, and static 50 mph speed limits implemented in both directions. Travel news service INRIX said both motorways are closed while work is carried out to stop the flooding. They became known as the M25 Three. Following the war, 11 separate county councils told the Ministry of Transport that an orbital route was "first priority" for London. [37], The southern section of what became the M25 through Surrey and Kent was first conceived to be an east–west road south of London to relieve the A25, and running parallel to it, with its eastern end following the route of what is now the M26. [21], Two motorway service areas are on the M25, and two others are directly accessible from it.