Infrastructure company Balfour Beatty, in partnership with National Highways, reopened the M25 more than seven hours ahead of schedule, following the second full weekend closure.

The M25 between Junction 9 and 10, was closed at 9pm on Friday, May 10 until approximately 11pm on Sunday, May 12, to allow for the installation of 72 beams which will form part of the M25 East Bridge as well as a new gantry, spanning the entire width of the M25 carriageway. 

Specialist lifting gear was needed to move the beams into place, some of which weighed 40 tonnes each. 

The closure marks the second of five intentional motorway closures planned and builds on the success of the first closure during which Balfour Beatty successfully demolished the Clearmount bridleway bridge and installed a large gantry weighing in at 128 tonnes and spanning 63 metres.

Howard Williams, Balfour Beatty project director, said: “We are pleased that we have been able to complete this essential and complex work early and reopen the M25 to the travelling public ahead of schedule.

“Works are progressing well on this critical scheme, and we remain on track to complete in summer 2025.

“On completion, the project will significantly improve traffic congestion in the local area whilst also making journeys safer.”

The M25 Junction 10 improvement scheme will increase the number of lanes to make journeys safer and to improve traffic flow; in turn, reducing the pollution caused by traffic build up. 

Balfour Beatty and National Highways will also install the UK’s first ever heathland bridge, connecting Ockham and Wisley commons and providing a safe, natural corridor for local wildlife.