Drivers are being warned to expect delays as a second weekend closure of the M25 has been announced.
National Highways said the seven-mile stretch of the motorway between Junctions 9 and 10 in Surrey will be closed in both directions from 9pm on Friday May 10 until 6am on Monday May 13 while concrete beams for a new bridge and gantry are lifted into place.
This is the second of five weekend closures of the motorway – which encircles London – as part of work to improve Junction 10.
Please only travel if absolutely necessary
There were fears of severe congestion on diversion routes ahead of the first closure between Junctions 10 and 11 in March but many drivers followed advice to avoid the area, meaning long hold-ups were avoided.
National Highways senior project manager Jonathan Wade warned that the next shutdown will be “far from a repeat of the previous closure” as the diversion routes are “longer and will be different for over-height vehicles and all other traffic”.
He went on: “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.”
The March closure was the first planned daytime shutdown of the M25 since it opened in 1986.