Aerial footage captured from a drone shows construction workers taking down a bridge on the M25.
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The M25 in Surrey returned to its regular traffic flow this morning following the completion of weekend construction that shut down a portion of the motorway. The project was finished several hours earlier than expected.
The stretch of road between junctions 10 and 11, spanning five miles, was closed in both directions starting at 9pm on Friday and was not anticipated to reopen until 6am on Monday.
At 10:30pm on Sunday, National Highways announced that the road was now accessible in both directions, following the successful demolition of the Clearmount bridge.
“Remove the bridge during the weekend.”
(Getty Images)
X wrote a message expressing gratitude for the patience shown during the weekend’s closure of the M25 J10-11.
“The road closure was necessary for the demolition of a bridge and installation of a large gantry. Fortunately, the road has reopened eight hours earlier than anticipated. We appreciate your patience during this time.”
Following a warning for drivers to stay home, the shutdown of the motorway was predicted to create a traffic nightmare over the weekend.
This marked the initial scheduled daytime shutdown of the motorway, encircling London, since its establishment in 1986.
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Alex Ross 18 March 2024 10:38
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The M25 is a motorway that encircles London, England.
The M25 is a highway that surrounds the city of London, England.
On weekends, between junctions nine and 11, the M25 typically has a traffic volume of 4,000 to 6,000 vehicles per hour from 10am to 9pm.
Below are additional details regarding the highway surrounding the city’s capital:
The construction of the M25 incurred a cost of nearly 1 billion pounds during the 1980s.
Construction required two million tons of concrete.
Originally, it was constructed to accommodate a maximum of 100,000 vehicles per day, but currently services nearly twice that amount.
The construction project took place between 1975 and 1986, with the final section being opened by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Alex Ross 18 March 2024 10:38
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Exceeding our expectations.
Due to the temporary closure of the M25 between junctions 10 and 11, a detour was established which passed through the towns of Byfleet, West Byfleet, Woking, and Ottershaw.
Initially, there were worries about congestion on the road, but it ended up not being as severe as initially anticipated.
The drivers were advised to refrain from traveling during the weekend.
According to Amanda Boote, from Woking Borough Council, the situation has been better than expected and traffic is not as congested as anticipated.
The exaggeration was a little excessive, but it was not any different from the usual state. In fact, the residents are content because they have been able to sleep peacefully due to the quietness at night.
Alex Ross 18 March 2024 10:02
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Drivers had ‘taken on board our advice’ – Highways England
Highways England advised drivers to use the 11.5-mile diversion route along A roads during the closure of the M25 between junctions 10 and 11. They also urged people to only use the M25 if absolutely necessary.
The removal of the bridge and installation of a gantry resulted in the closure of the motorway section. It will be the first of five closures between now and September as part of a £317m upgrade to the motorway.
According to Jonathan Wade, the head of the National Highways project, the traffic during the weekend closure was not as severe as one may anticipate.
Explanation: According to his statement, drivers had followed our suggestion and this led to a decrease in traffic by 50%, with only a 30-minute increase in journey time.
He expressed gratitude to all those who helped with the major project to improve safety and decrease pollution, making the process much smoother.
Alex Ross 18 March 2024 09:30
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This view of the M25 will not be seen again.
It was an unusual occurrence on the M25 – drivers crossing over a bridge between junction 10 and 11 were met with a peaceful scene over the weekend. The entire motorway was reopened on Sunday evening.
The empty section of the M25, between junction 10 and 11, over the weekend
(Getty Images)
The reason for the closure was to facilitate the replacement of a bridge and the installation of a new support structure.
(Getty Images)
Alex Ross 18 March 2024 09:00
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‘Normal service resumes’
Alex Ross 18 March 2024 08:25
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National Highways expresses gratitude for individuals’ understanding and tolerance.
National Highways expressed gratitude to drivers for their understanding and cooperation during the M25 closure over the weekend.
“Our sincerest gratitude to all for your understanding and cooperation during the M25 J10-11 closure this past weekend,” a representative shared on Sunday evening.
“The bridge demolition and installation of a large gantry required the closure, but the road has now reopened, eight hours earlier than expected. Thank you for your patience.”
Sam Rkaina 18 March 2024 07:45
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In case you missed it: The history behind the M25’s transformation into a popular tourist destination.
According to our travel expert, Simon Calder:
“We came out of the pine trees near Byfleet station and discovered the serene countryside basking in the morning sun.”
As I stepped off the first train from London on Saturday morning at West Byfleet station in Surrey, a quote from H G Wells’s War of the Worlds came to mind.
In this tranquil area of the suburbs surrounding London, everything was serene and calm in the morning light. However, the peaceful atmosphere was disrupted by the arrival of the initial Bulgarian truck, which came through with a loud roar.
The truck’s original route was changed due to the unexpected closure of a section of the M25 highway that encircles London.
The A245 road between Byfleet and West Byfleet is now being used as a detour route. I later found out that it has also become a temporary tourist attraction.
Athena Stavrou 18 March 2024 06:00
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The RAC is cautioning drivers about a month of increased traffic issues.
Alice Simpson, spokesperson for RAC breakdown, stated that March may bring double traffic difficulties for drivers in London due to the M25 closures and the Easter holiday rush. This may pose challenges for those trying to navigate within the city or reach Gatwick and Heathrow airports.
Even though people were warned in advance, it is likely that most vacationers planning to fly from either airport have already made their travel arrangements several months ago. This means they will need to allow extra time to reach the airport, especially since the common alternate routes will be heavily congested.
“If you are planning to drive between the 15th and 18th, we suggest starting your car ahead of time to assess the condition of its battery. Additionally, remember to inspect the Fuel, Oil, Rubber, Coolant, Electrics, and Screen wash before embarking on a long trip.”
Athena Stavrou 18 March 2024 04:30
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Pictures were taken during the weekend closure of the historic M25 motorway.
A warning sign is displayed as traffic increases in Cobham, Surrey near a temporarily closed portion of the M25 (photo credit: Yui Mok/PA)
A new gantry is being installed as part of the demolition of a bridge (Yui Mok/PA).
A gantry is being set up during the night on a blocked area of the M25 highway in Surrey, managed by National Highways South-East/PA company.
(PA Media)
Athena Stavrou 18 March 2024 03:00
Source: independent.co.uk