Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Update

The Spending Review announcement outlined that the M25 Junctions 5 to 7 Managed Motorways scheme will be prepared for start of construction by 2015, subject to the outcome of statutory processes. For more information please visit our Future Delivery Programme page.

Project Background

The M25 is one of Europe's busiest motorways, handling around 200,000 vehicles every day. It is at the core of our network and is suffering from increasing congestion levels and journey times. We need to manage traffic flows better and to help achieve this we are currently widening the carriageways from Junctions 16 to 23, and from Junctions 27 to 30, from 3 to 4 lanes in each direction.

Since June 2008 we have been considering options to improve the traffic flow from Junctions 5 to 7. In January the Secretary of State decided that this section of motorway could be improved by the introduction of a system to allow use of the hard shoulder by traffic during peak times (otherwise known as Managed Motorways). Since then we have been working on design arrangements to prepare for works to introduce this after the Olympics. Our aim will be to provide the minimum amount of improvements necessary to deliver the safe operation of Managed Motorways. To find out more about the Highways Agency's plans please visit our Managed Motorways page.

Public Information Exhibitions:

The Exhibition that was scheduled for February 2010 has been postponed, as detailed plans for the scheme are still being finalised. A revised date for the exhibition will be advised when this is confirmed.

Start of Works:

Should the Secretary of State consider that an Environmental Statement is required, it will be announced through a Notice of Determination. In any event, construction will not start until after the Olympics in either 2013/14 or 2014/15.