Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

The Project

This is one of five schemes for the improvement of the M25 that entered the Government's Programme of Major Schemes in April 2004.

We need to manage traffic flows better and to help achieve this we are widening the carriageways from dual 3 lanes to dual 4 lanes between junctions 27-30 (Section 4).

We are building the new lanes within land we already own.

You can find out about the background to this scheme here. 

Construction at Section 4 is divided into three sub-sections

• Section 4a from J27 for 8.5km towards J28
• Section 4b from the end of Section 4a to J29
• Section 4c J29 to J30

Work to widen the M25 between junctions 27-30 started with Section 4a on the 20 July 2009.

Benefits of the scheme

• Improved journey time reliability
• Reduced congestion
• Improved motorway safety
• Improved driver information
• Low noise surfacing

What we will be doing

• Widen 3-lane carriageway to 4-lane carriageway in both directions (anticlockwise and clockwise)
• Drop hard shoulder at all bridges
• Replace central reserve
• Provide new verge-side lighting
• Provide new gantries and variable message signs
• Improve drainage, including new balancing ponds
• Provide environmental mitigation measures

We have retained as much of the existing screening as possible, although the M25 will become more visible to some properties for a period. Replanting will take place when the work is complete. All work will be in accordance with the Control of Pollution Act 1974 Section 61.

What happens next?

Our construction programme has been carefully planned to minimise disruption to road users. Three lanes of the M25 will be kept open in each direction during peak times throughout construction. We will close lanes at times of reduced traffic flow for essential night-time works. These closures will be agreed in advance with local police and other stakeholders.

Contraflows and speed restrictions to keep everyone safe

• During the work, two-way traffic will use one carriageway in contraflow.
• There will be 3 narrow lanes in each direction whilst our workforce widen the other carriageway.
• An average speed limit of 50mph will be enforced throughout the roadworks, for your safety as a motorist and for the safety of our workforce

Vehicle Recovery

• During the construction period, CCTV cameras will be installed on the motorway to support the management of incidents.
• The CCTV team will promptly identify incidents and notify our vehicle recovery teams to assist stranded motorists.
• A free vehicle recovery service will be provided within the road works.
• We will provide facilities for stranded motorists where they can make arrangements to continue their onward journeys.

The M25 DBFO comapny Connect Plus, appointed Skanska Balfour Beatty Joint Venture as contractor for these widening works.

Our Community Relations Team will be available throughout the construction process to answer any queries you may have about the project.

They can be contacted at: communityrelations27-30.m25@sbbjv.co.uk

Start of Works Exhibitions

We held a Exhibition to publicise the first phase of our works in May 2009. We will hold Start of Works Exhibitions for works on the M25 between Junctions 28 and 30 in 2010 and 2011.