LONG WAY ROUND
Drivers warned over travel chaos & long delays as stretch of major motorway to close for second time in weeks
Motorists have been warned to brace for more disruption
A STRETCH of a major motorway is to shut completely for a second time — with even worse disruption expected.
Seven miles of the M25 will be closed between junctions 9 and 10 in Surrey over the weekend of May 10 to May 13.
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Drivers are being urged to avoid the area.
The stretch was first closed for a weekend last month to allow for works on a new bridge.
But National Highways said diversion routes will be longer this time — and will be different for over-height vehicles and all other traffic.
Senior project manager Jonathan Wade warned that the next shutdown will be "far from a repeat of the previous closure".
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He added: "Drivers listened to our advice last time which reduced motorway traffic levels by over two-thirds and meant delays were limited.
"Our advice again is please only travel if absolutely necessary and make sure you give yourself extra time if you do choose to use the M25."
The closure from March 15 to 18 was the first planned daytime shutdown of the M25 since it opened in 1986.
It sparked two-mile queues on the approach to junction 10, on diversion routes around junction 11 and further into London.
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Hollywood actor Tom Cruise is said to have hired a helicopter to spare his cast and crew the traffic misery.
The superstar was in the area that weekend to film Mission Impossible 8 at Surrey’s Longcross Studios.
Tom Cruise uses helicopters to fly cast & crew over closed M25 in daring bid to film Mission Impossible 8
The works are part of a £317 million project to improve junction 10, one of the UK’s busiest and most dangerous motorway junctions.
Due to be completed in summer 2025, the works will increase the number of lanes.
Next month's shutdown, the second of five weekend closures, will be in place from 9pm on Friday May 10 until 6am on Monday May 13.
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