Too easy? M25 project beats re-opening once again

Balfour Beatty and National Highways have again re-opened the M25 ‘ahead of schedule’ after works on the flagship Junction 10 scheme under a full weekend closure of the motorway.

The M25 was closed between junctions 9 and 10 from 9pm on Friday 10 May until approximately 11pm on Sunday 12 May, to allow for the installation of 72 beams that will form part of a new bridge, as well as a new gantry, spanning the entire carriageway.

Specialist lifting gear was needed to move the beams into place, some of which weighed 40 tonnes each.

The closure was the second of five planned motorway closures and follows the first full closure of the motorway during which Balfour Beatty demolished the Clearmount bridleway bridge and installed a large gantry weighing 128 tonnes and spanning 63 metres.

Balfour Beatty said the motorway had re-opened ‘ahead of schedule for the second time in a row’ - although the advertised planned re-opening time of 5.30 on Monday morning will have included a contingency period in case the works fell behind schedule.

Project director Howard Williams said: ‘We are pleased that we have been able to complete this essential and complex work early and re-open the M25 to the travelling public ahead of schedule.

‘Works are progressing well on this critical scheme, and we remain on track to complete in Summer 2025. On completion, the project will significantly improve traffic congestion in the local area whilst also making journeys safer.’

The Junction 10 scheme aims to make journeys safer and to improve traffic flow. It will install what is said to be the UK’s first heathland bridge, connecting Ockham and Wisley commons.