M25 diversion map shows routes drivers must take ahead of major closure in May

National Highways is closing both directions of the motorway between Junctions 9 in Leatherhead and 10 in Wisley between 10 and 13 May.

Four diversion routes will be in place for the partial M25 shutdown between 10 and 13 May. (PA)
Four diversion routes will be in place for the partial M25 shutdown between 10 and 13 May. (PA)

Drivers will face miles-long diversions during the second weekend closure of the M25 next month.

National Highways is closing both directions of the motorway between Junctions 9 in Leatherhead and 10 in Wisley between 10 and 13 May.

This will impact thousands of motorists: at weekends, between 4,000 and 6,000 vehicles use the M25 between Junctions 9 and 11 in each direction every hour from 10am until 9pm.

As such, National Highways is urging motorists to follow four diversion routes around Surrey and south-west London. These can be seen in the map below.

M25 closure May diversion route
Diversion routes for the planned closure in May.

There are two routes, in both directions, for the majority of vehicles, with a further two - also in both directions - for "over height" vehicles.

The diversion for the majority of drivers is 19 miles long, the one for over height vehicles is 14 miles long.

National Highways is asking drivers to follow these rather than their satnav systems. Here are the agency's instructions for each route...

Diversion route clockwise (from Gatwick towards Heathrow) for most traffic:

Leave the M25 at junction 8, A217 (Reigate). Follow the A217 London, Sutton, (A240) Kingston. After 3½ miles turn left onto the A240 Epsom, Kingston. After 3 miles at the Esso roundabout, turn right onto the A24 (A240) Kingston. Continue for 3 miles and turn left onto the A3 Portsmouth, Guildford. Continue for 9½ miles to the M25 and re-join the motorway at junction 10.

Diversion route clockwise (from Gatwick towards Heathrow) for over height vehicles (over 4.6m):

Leave the M25 at junction 9 A243 (Leatherhead). Follow A243 London, Hook, Chessington. After 6 miles, turn left onto the A309 Esher, Staines, (A3) Guildford, Portsmouth. After 1½ miles turn left to the A307 Esher, Guildford A3. After 4½ miles, in Cobham, turn right onto the A245 M25, Guildford A3, Weybridge, Woking. After ½ mile turn left onto the A3 Portsmouth Guildford. Continue for 1 mile and re-Join the motorway at J10.

Diversion route anticlockwise (from Heathrow towards Gatwick) for most traffic:

Leave the M25 at junction 10 to join the A3 towards London. After 9½ miles at the Hook interchange leave the A3 turning right onto the A240 Epsom, Reigate. Continue for 3 miles to the Esso roundabout and turn left onto the A240 Reigate. Continue for 3 miles then turn right onto the A217 Reigate, M25. After 3½ miles turn left to re-join the M25 motorway at junction 8.

Diversion route anticlockwise (from Heathrow towards Gatwick) for over height vehicles (over 4.6m):

Leave the M25 at junction 10 to join the A3 towards London. After 1 mile at the Painshill interchange leave the A3 turning right onto the A245 Cobham (A307 Esher). After ½ mile turn left onto the A307 Esher. Continue for 4½ miles then turn right onto the A309 London, Sutton. Continue for a further 2 miles to the Hook interchange and turn right onto the A243 Dorking. After 6 miles, turn left to re-join the M25 motorway at junction 9.

Fiona and Patrick Potter take a selfie on the Parvis Road bridge in Byfleet during the first M25 closure last month. (PA)
Fiona and Patrick Potter take a selfie on the Parvis Road bridge in Byfleet during the first M25 closure last month. (PA)

M25 closure dates: When will the motorway be closed in 2024?

This is the second of five weekend closures of the M25, which encircles London, as part of a £317m project to improve Junction 10. The first happened last month.

This particular closure between Junctions 9 and 10 will be in place from 9pm on Friday, 10 May until 6am on Monday, 13 May. It will see workers lift into place concrete beams for a new bridge and gantry.

We don't know exactly when the third, fourth and fifth closures will take place, but National Highways has said they are "due between July and the end of the year".

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