Costs may be dramatically on the rise but National Highways is not cutting any environmental corners as part of its Junction 28 upgrade, with 600 fish and other wildlife relocated from one side of the M25 to the other.
Environmental specialists were tasked with moving over 12 species of fish, including a 50cm long European eel and several Bullhead fish, ahead of a temporary diversion of a brook
Some of the fish in the brook including the eel were listed on the International Union for running through the M25 Junction 28 upgrade. conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.
The M25 scheme will see the construction of a two-lane loop road, for traffic travelling from the M25 anti-clockwise onto the A12 eastbound (towards Brentwood). This will include the construction of new bridges to take the loop road over or under the other road links.
Costs have risen substantially for the scheme in the last few years. Initial estimates put the scheme at £50 to £100m. It is now estimated to cost between £140 to £170m.
The diversion of the brook will allow National Highways to start installing the steel girders for the new Maylands and Grove bridges.
Zach Pepper, project lead for M25 Jct 28, said: 'We want to deliver the essential improvements to this busy junction while protecting the wildlife and biodiversity around us. So we’re head over eels that we’ve been able to safely relocate hundreds of fish, and other species from the brook. The brook will be returned to its natural route once work in the area is fin-ished.'
The M25 junction 28 plays a vital role in connecting the M25 with the A12, as well as providing local access to Brentwood and the A1023 Brook Street.
At peak times up to 7,500 vehicles per hour pass through this heavily used junction, resulting in queues and delays.
The scheme is expected to be open for traffic in summer 2025.
