'Busiest section' of M25 to be closed this weekend as police escort 'abnormal' load across the UK

The units require a police escort due to the extended widths which will block the roads including a portion of the M25.

The loads will travel in two convoys across the weekend and will begin their journey from Northumberland on Saturday, October 12, travelling via the A1, M1, and M25.

Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailingmotoring@gbnews.uk

The loads will travel as far as Junction 12 before heading south on the M3, exiting at J4, it will then proceed along the A331, A31 and A3, before coming off at the Dennis Roundabout Junction and following the A25 to the A320, where it will travel to their final destinationof Woking Community Hospital.

While the load gets to its destination, the Woking one-way system will be temporarily held in order to manoeuvre the loads safely through the Surrey town. The second convoy will then repeat this journey on Sunday morning.

Surrey Police said: “Sadly, we can’t give exact timings at this stage, but expect it will come off the M3 at Junction 4 no earlier than 9am.

“We anticipate some temporary localised disruption as a result, and although it will be kept to a minimum, motorists are advised to plan their journey with this in mind."

Meanwhile, other planned closures on the M25 include J10 - the “busiest section" of the motorway - which has been undergoing a three-year project.The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2025.

National Highways explained that the M25 would be closed in both directions with traffic diverted up onto the gyratory, around the roundabout and back onto the M25.

The agency stated: “Junction 10 is the busiest section of the M25 with over 300,000 vehicles passing through every day. Our improvements will reduce congestion, create a smoother flow of traffic and provide safer journeys for thousands every day.”

The closures are to allow further work to be completed on the junction. This includes putting in new and safer routes for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders. An additional lane on the A3 in both directions from Ockham and Painshill junctions towards the M25.

A larger roundabout with extra lanes to increase capacity will also be installed and improvements to the A245 Seven Hills junction and Painshill roundabout as well as safer access to Old Lane, Elm Lane, Heyswood campsite and San Domenic.

The move hopes to improve safety and journey times, reduce congestion, smooth the flow of traffic, increase capacity and provide better connections for drivers and commuters.

This sheer volume of traffic built up along the junction means vehicles often start queuing northbound between the Ockham Park roundabout and the M25 junction 10, on the junction 10 roundabout, and on the approach to the Painshill roundabout.

As part of the project the A3 will be surfaced with a low-noise material and environmental barriers along the M25 will be replaced.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• Drivers could see national speed limits lowered on busy motorways and A-roads in 'essential' law change
• Drivers warned of common driving defect carrying £2,500 fine and breaks Highway Code rules
• Martin Lewis urges drivers to 'avoid' car insurance payment method which could hike prices by hundreds

National Highways explained: “The effects on air quality will be minimised, and local rivers, lakes and ponds will be better protected from pollution and flooding.

"We’ll also deliver environmental improvements, including the restoration of heathland around junction 10, and the planting of new trees and woodland in other areas."