As maintenance continues, a portion of Surrey's M25 will close for the second time this year.
The project to increase safety and lower pollution will include the installation of a bridge with 68 beams, each weighing 16 tonnes, and four additional beams, each weighing 40 tonnes, according to National Highways.
From March 15–18, a five-mile (8 km) section between junctions 10 and 11 was closed. This was the first time since the M25's opening in 1986 that all lanes were slated to be closed during the day.
National Highways spokesperson Jonathan Wade advised drivers to only travel "if absolutely necessary”.
He said: “Drivers listened to our advice last time, which reduced motorway traffic levels by over two-thirds and meant delays were limited.
“Our advice again is please only travel if absolutely necessary and make sure you give yourself extra time if you do choose to use the M25.”
But when is the M25 temporarily closing and which parts are impacted?
When is the M25 closed?
The motorway will shut two junctions between May 10 and 13.
As part of the £317m road upgrading project, more lanes will be added in an effort to make travel safer, and a new junction design will enhance traffic flow.
Three further closures are scheduled for August through the end of the year.
Which part of the M25 is closed?
The impending work is scheduled to occur between junctions nine (A243 Leatherhead) and 10 (A3 Wisley), starting on May 10 at 9pm and ending at 6am on May 13.
More minor disruptions could be expected with work to retrofit more emergency refuges for sections of the smart motorway with no hard shoulder.
How to get around the M25 closures
There will be four diversion routes during the closure, one of which will be for over-height vehicles and most traffic going clockwise from Gatwick towards Heathrow.For the majority of traffic and over-height trucks, the other two diversionary routes will run anticlockwise from Heathrow towards Gatwick.
There is also a 19-mile diversion that follows A-roads in Surrey and Greater London.
The primary diversion will exit the M25 clockwise at junction eight at Reigate, lead drivers north past Tadworth and Ewell to connect with the A3 at Tolworth, and then re-enter the M25 at Wisley. A diversion for high-sided trucks will exit at Leatherhead junction nine, pass through Esher and Malden Rushett and then rejoin the A3 at Painshill. When travelling counter-clockwise, these routes are reversed. Longer-distance drivers are advised to circumvent the Surrey section of the M25 by going around it in the opposite direction.
Ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) fines could be handed out for those who decide to go off-course from the designated diversion for this weekend's M25 highway closure.
As long as they stick to the designated route, drivers of non-Ulez-compliant vehicles entering the clean-air zone won't be penalised; however, if they attempt to take a shortcut by following their satnav, they will be responsible for the £12.50 fine.
Normally, only petrol vehicles older than 18 years old or diesel vehicles older than nine years are subject to the fee, which was extended to include Greater London last year.
