London travel news LIVE: Traffic builds but M25 closure work ‘on schedule’ as gantry installed

Traffic queues on the M25, stretching back around three miles either side of a closure, are building on Sunday as National Highways remains on track with road works.

It has confirmed that the planned gantry was installed overnight and work is on schedule to be completed by Monday.

While there were long queues on Saturday, Surrey locals have reported that the knock on effects were not as severe as anticipated.

The stretch connects Heathrow Airport to the South of England, with aerial pictures capturing the road with no traffic in the first planned daytime shutdown since 1986.

The roadworks, which involve demolishing a bridge and putting up a giant gantry, triggered five mile-long, single-file queues on the road approaching the closure.

The road is not expected to reopen until 6am on Monday. It will close again in April and three more times during the busy summer months.

Follow below for live updates.

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17:16 , Robert Dex

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More selfies on the M25

15:46 , Will Mata

People are enjoying the view of the quiet road on the M25 this weekend...

Tailbacks now around 5km, latest traffic data shows

14:49 , Will Mata

Latest traffic data from Inrix shows that queues of around 5km (three miles) are now stretching back from junction ten of the M25.

Continued warning against all but essential travel

14:35 , Will Mata

National Highways is continuing to urge motorists to only use the M25 and diversions if the journey is necessary.

“This will help us to prevent further congestion,” a tweet said.

“Works are ongoing on the #M25 in #Surrey and the road remains closed in both directions between J10 (#A3) and J11 (#Chertsey).”

Traffic beginning to build along the main M25 diversion route

14:16 , Will Mata

Traffic is beginning to build along the main M25 diversion route up to Byfleet.

Surrey Highways tweeted: “Please avoid the area if you can, check for updates before leaving and leave plenty of time for your journeys.”

Traffic at standstill on M20

13:26 , Sami Quadri

Traffic is halted on the M20 between Junction 7 at Maidstone and Junction 8 at Hollingbourne in both directions.

The reason for the stoppage is not yet clear, but Kent police are present at the scene.

National Highways South East reports a 45-minute delay and recommends checking your route.

Delays on roads around junction 10

12:55 , Will Mata

Data from Inrix shows that there are queues of several kilometres on the M25 back from junction 10.

There is also shown to be disruption heading onto the M3.

Cameras show only minor traffic approaching junction 11

11:50 , Will Mata

Live footage from Motorway Traffic Cameras has shown that there is only minor traffic approaching junction 11 of the M25, where the disruption ends and begins.

However, around junctions 9 and 10 there seems to be a long queue.

Alll you need to know - video

11:29 , Will Mata

Several kilometres of queues approaching M25 junctions

11:22 , Will Mata

Latest traffic data is now showing several kilometres of traffic is backing up on the approach to junctions 10 and 11.

The A3 at Wisley is particuarly slow moving while there is also around 7km of traffic in Byfleet.

The A31 through Addlestone off junction 11 has around 4km of queing, accoridng to Inrix information.

Completed gantry now in place

11:14 , Will Mata

National Highways said on Sunday its work remains on schedule as it shared an image on X, formerly Twitter, of the new gantry being guided in place with a crane.

Gantry installed and works 'remain on schedule'

10:30 , Will Mata

National Highways has confirmed its gantry was installed overnight and that works remain on schedule.The M25 remains closed in both directions between junctions 10 and 11 on Sunday.“Please consider alternative routes and only travel on the M25 and diversion route if necessary,” National Highways said on Twitter.

Four more M25 projects being lined up this year

10:00 , Will Mata

Four more daytime closures of the will take place up to September.

The project, due to be completed in summer 2025, will increase the number of lanes at junction 10, which is one of the UK’s busiest and most dangerous motorway junctions.

The M25 normally carries between 4,000 and 6,000 vehicles in each direction every hour from 10am until 9pm at weekends between junctions nine and 11.

This includes many airline passengers travelling to, from and between the UK’s two busiest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick.

Traffic now building north of junction 11

09:56 , Will Mata

Latest data shows that around 2km of traffic is now building to the north of the road closure.

Inrix has shown the standstill on the approach to juncion 11, near Chertsey.

Delays towards junction 10 appear to have eased.

'Traffic has not been as bad as feared'

09:27 , Will Mata

Amanda Boote, of Woking Borough Council, told the PA news agency that traffic along the new route through the towns of Byfleet, West Byfleet, Woking and Ottershaw was not as bad as feared.

National Highways said on Saturday it had made good progress during the first night of work, as it shared an image on X, formerly Twitter.

'Workers making good progress'

09:23 , Will Mata / PA

Workers have made "good progress" on the M25 in Surrey amid the motorway's first planned daytime closure.

The five-mile stretch of the motorway between junctions 10 and 11 was closed in both directions at 9pm on Friday and remains inaccessible until 6am on Monday while a bridge is demolished and a new gantry installed.

Concerns had been raised that thousands of drivers would be stuck in gridlocked traffic over the weekend during the unprecedented closure on the south-west of the orbital route, with one councillor calling it a "nightmare".

Congestion stretched for two miles on Saturday morning, according to National Highways South-East (NHSE), and the estimated average journey time through the diversion route was 25 minutes.

3km tailbacks now on M25 approaching J10

09:18 , Will Mata

There is now traffic stretching back for around 3km on the M25 up to junction 10.

Live data shows that the queuing has gone beyond the Horsley Road junction and that it could take a while to pass through.

'Minimal delays so far onto A3'

08:40 , Will Mata

National Highways has said that there are minimal delays for anyone using junction 10 to connect to the M3.

“Due to the time of day there are minimal days approaching J10 for the A3 on the clockwise carriageway this morning,” the official account said in reply to a tweet.

The body has said: “Call 0300 123 5000 and one of our contact centre team members will be happy to check your route for you.”

Traffic beginning to build at Wisley interchange

08:37 , Will Mata

The first signs of traffic have been spotted on Sunday morning, with minor delays seen at the Wisley interchange.

Junction 10 of the M25 is the southernmost point of the closure of the motorway.

There appear to be clear roads otherwise, as of 8.35am.

From yesterday...

07:49 , Will Mata

Here are some of the headlines from Satuday...

Parts of M25 in Surrey see two miles of congestion

M25 closure: Drivers face miles of tailbacks with more disruption to come on Sunday

Tom Cruise offers 'to fly Mission Impossible cast and crew over closed M25'

Another day of disruption to come

07:45 , Will Mata

Good morning! The closure of the M25 between junctions 10 and 11 remains in place on Sunday.

National Highways South East has said: Bridge demolition works have continued throughout the night.

“Expect delays throughout today. We continue to urge you only to use the M25 and diversions if your journey is necessary.”