M25 Closures Force Drivers Into ULEZ: Avoid £75 Fines With These Tips

Drivers are being warned to follow diversion signs in order to avoid ULEZ charges during three weekend-long junction closures on the M25. The closures will be in place on the weekends of 4 October, 18 October and 1 November, when drivers won't be able to use slip roads to leave or join the M25 or the A3 at junction 10.

The roads will close at 9pm on each Friday night. A spokesperson said in a statement: "While the Ultra Low Emission Zone across London will remain in force during these closures, the signed diversion routes have been designed to ensure that drivers would avoid any charges."

The advice to drivers is to follow the signed diversion route or "check whether their vehicle would be subject to charges at the Transport for London website". The routes will reopn again on 6am the following Monday morning.

There are seven diversions listed by National Highways for the weekends, when both the M25 and the A3 will remain open. Of the seven, two of them use the A243 going past Chessington World of Adventures, which is within the zone.

The ULEZ was expanded to cover all London boroughs in August 2023 , and ordinarily drivers of non-compliant cars anywhere within the ULEZ face a daily charge of £12.50. It means a driver driving both Saturday and Sunday of each affected weekend could rack up a £75 charge.

Drivers are strongly advised to follow the signed diversion routes or check their vehicle's compliance on the Transport for London website before travelling. For those heading eastbound on the M25 towards Gatwick and wishing to access the A3, the diversion involves exiting at Junction 11 and following the A320 and A245, road users are told.

M25 Junction 28 Overhaul: A £317 Million Project to Combat Traffic Woes

A major multi-million pound improvement to part of the UK's busiest motorway aimed at reducing traffic jam misery is underway. The M25 junction 28 plays a vital role in connecting the A12, which runs through Essex to Norfolk, and the orbital motorway, as well as providing access to Brentwood via the A1023.

Up to 7,500 vehicles per hour pass through the junction roundabout at peak times, making it a key area for bottlenecks during rush hour. If action to improve traffic flow is not taken, it is likely to worsen over the next ten to 13 years.

A National Highways spokesperson said: "As it is operating at capacity, vehicles using the junction face congestion and delays, which effects local air quality. Our research shows that traffic is expected to increase in the area by around 30 percent by 2037, which means that more than 9,000 vehicles could be passing through it by this date."

As major work takes place this weekend the M25 clockwise exit slip road at junction 28 will close this Friday, October 4, from 11pm to Monday October 7 until 5am. A signed diversion will be in place by the M25 clockwise to junction 29, returning on the anticlockwise carriageway to junction 28. The spokesperson added: "We need the weekend closure for work on the base that will support the gantry."

The planned improvements to the junction include building a new two-lane loop road, for traffic travelling from the M25 anti-clockwise onto the A12 eastbound towards Brentwood. This includes the construction of several new bridges to take the loop road over or under the other road links. It will also involve significant changes to the landscape changing the position of A12 eastbound exit slip road and M25 anti-clockwise entry slip road to allow for the new loop road and widening the M25 anti-clockwise carriageway to provide more space for traffic leaving for the A12 eastbound.

The spokesperson added: "Our improvement scheme will increase capacity and reduce congestion at the junction and on the approaches and exits. (It will) improve safety by redesigning the existing roundabout layout and reducing traffic levels, provide better connections between the M25 and A12, reduce annual collision rates through additional capacity (and) improve average journey times and reliability for all passing traffic through the junction."

They said it would also minimise the impact of air and noise pollution in the local area by smoothing the traffic flow, reduce traffic queuing back onto the M25 and help economic growth in the area by providing improvements to cater for future traffic demands. It is hoped to complete the works by the end of 2025.

M25 Junction 10 Improvements: A £300 Million Project for a Busier Future

The M25 Junction 10 / A3 Wisley interchange is the busiest section of the M25 with over 300,000 vehicles travelling through it every day. To improve the junction, we are building four new slip roads at Junction 10, increasing the capacity of the roundabout and widening the A3 to four lanes either side of the junction.

As part of our scope of works we will also undertake the demolition of five bridges and construct eight new ones.

The scheme will also involve some of the most extensive environmental works ever carried out by National Highways, restoring over 25 hectares of heathland as well as planting new woodland and constructing the UK’s first heathland green bridge.

Through modern methods of construction, we have combined cutting-edge innovation with collaborative partnerships to minimise the impact of the works on road users.

To significantly accelerate build times and reduce the duration of on-site bridge installations, the precast concrete shells for the bridge builds are being produced off-site at our supply chain partner's manufacturing facility in Worksop. This process ensures that the shells are pre-engineered for safe deployment and manufactured in a controlled factory environment, resulting in a consistently high-quality product. It also enables us to reduce the construction working area and maintain the road capacity through the works, minimising customer impact whilst providing greater certainty on required closures and enhancing overall project efficiency.

The first closure of the M25 since its completion in 1986 took place in March 2024, and it was a great success with the junction reopening seven hours ahead of schedule. This was testament to the collaborative work undertaken by our project team with National Highways, our supply chain partners and our local stakeholders including Surrey County Council, Connect Plus Services and the emergency services.

To minimise disruption across the surrounding road network, our team is working closely with National Highways and the local stakeholders who are impacted by our works. This collaborative approach has seen the team establish two-way transparent relationships with all key stakeholders ensuring they are kept fully up to date on all our activities.

This includes RHS Garden Wisley whose annual flower show event has run smoothly over the past two years thanks to the bespoke traffic management solution developed in collaboration with them and other key local stakeholders.

To create safer routes for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, we are constructing the UK’s first heathland green bridge. Spanning a 30-metre-wide deck, the bridge will reconnect Ockham and Wisley common either side of the A3, creating a natural and safe corridor for wildlife whilst reducing the likelihood of animal-related incidents.

The scheme is dedicated to creating a lasting positive legacy and giving back to the local community. As of August 2024, the scheme has:

To inspire and support the next generation of experts to work in our industry, we have delivered 59 schools and college events, hosted 31 weeks of work experience placements, and recruited 25 apprentices and graduates.

The ULEZ Loophole: A Relief for M25 Drivers

The ULEZ will still be in force across London during the closures, meaning drivers could be stung with a fine if they don't follow the signed diversion route. Motorists have been alerted about M25 closures that could force them to travel through ULEZ routes. Drivers are being advised to follow diversion signs to avoid ULEZ charges during three weekend-long junction closures on the M25. The closures will take place on the weekends of 4 October, 18 October and 1 November, when drivers won't be able to use slip roads to leave or join the M25 or the A3 at junction 10.

The roads will close at 9pm each Friday night. A spokesperson said in a statement: "While the Ultra Low Emission Zone across London will remain in force during these closures, the signed diversion routes have been designed to ensure that drivers would avoid any charges."

Drivers are being advised to follow the signed diversion route or "check whether their vehicle would be subject to charges at the Transport for London website". The routes will reopen again at 6am the following Monday morning. National Highways has listed seven diversions for the weekends, when both the M25 and the A3 will remain open. Of the seven, two of them use the A243 going past Chessington World of Adventures, which is within the zone, reports Birmingham Live.

Motorists are being urged to follow the signed diversion routes or check their vehicle's compliance on the Transport for London website before setting off. Those heading eastbound on the M25 towards Gatwick and wishing to access the A3, are advised to exit at Junction 11 and follow the A320 and A245, according to road users.