On Monday 11th March, local residents in Byfleet and West Byfleet received letters from National Highways explaining that the M25 would be closed for 48 hours between junctions 10 and 11 during the following weekend. This was to be the first time that the M25 had  been subject to such a scheduled closure since it opened. It was deemed essential due to bridge demolition works and gantry installation at the Wisley interchange. 

 

National Highways explained that the works were necessary for “restoring heathland and upgrading the junction with the A3 Wisley Interchange, to reduce congestion, improve safety and create more reliable journeys.” Ongoing work began back in the summer of 2022 and is expected to continue until the summer of 2025.

 

Most worryingly for local residents, the usual M25 traffic was intended to be directed through the villages of Byfleet and West Byfleet which are accessed by a single road that already suffers from congestion.

  

It was assumed by the public that the closure would lead to gridlock in the villages and was a particular concern for the residents of Dartnell Park who can only access their houses via that one road. 

 

There was extensive press coverage of the closure in the days beforehand with drivers being warned to expect severe delays. The village residents waited with dread only to find that the road through the villages was actually clearer than usual throughout the weekend. The press reporting clearly worked and drivers either chose to take alternative routes or postpone their travels. The press’s influence on the public led to care workers being able to get to their patients and emergency services not encountering severe delays. 

 

There are significant plans for four new closures throughout 2024, the next being from 19th to 22nd April where there will be a closure between junctions 10 and 11 again.