An “unprecedented” closure of the M25 in Surrey has led to a plea to drivers to follow diversions and ignore their sat-navs. The M25 will close from Friday night until Monday morning between junction 10 for Guildford and junction 11 for Chertsey.
Jonathan Wade, National Highways’ project lead, said a previous closure of the A3 had seen traffic move to local villages, which was “problematic”.
He said: “We can’t influence people in terms of taking the initiative themselves and just simply following what a sat-nav says, but please follow the signs. [There is] probably a greater risk of congestion by people just doing their own thing and thinking they can perhaps beat the signs and find a shorter or quicker route”.
The five-mile stretch will close completely from 21:00 GMT on Friday 15 March unil 06:00 on Monday 18 March, reports the BBC.
It is the first time there has been a scheduled daytime shutdown of all lanes on the M25 since it opened in 1986.
The closure is to enable the demolition of a bridge and installation of a new gantry as part of junction 10 improvements due to be completed in summer 2025.
