Major delays on M25 after carriageway collapses in heavy rain

A section of the M25 has now reopened after part of the carriageway collapsed yesterday. Drivers are being advised that lanes on the anti-clockwise M25 between junctions 10 (near Wisley) and 9 (near Leatherhead) are now open to traffic after repairs to the road surface were made.

Part of the road remained closed yesterday after the concrete used in overnight maintenance work failed to set and left a huge pothole in the middle of the motorway.

Drivers experienced severe delays after traffic was reduced down to one lane so it could be fixed.

Delays on the M25 are set to continue until this evening as three lanes remain closed anti-clockwise between Junctions 9 and 10 near Leatherhead.

Motorists are being advised to avoid the area if possible, due to the long delays. Passengers travelling to Gatwick Airport are being urged to allow extra time for their journey or take alternative routes.

The Highways Agency is still trying to repair an earlier road collapse and determine the cause of the defect.

The M25 in Surrey is likely to remain partly closed through the rush hour, as the Highways Agency struggles to finish a repair to the anti-clockwise carriageway near Leatherhead. Watch the video to see an aerial view of the area being fixed, plus a flyover of some of the traffic already tailing back. Local police are advising people to avoid the motorway if at all possible.

Severe delays as the M25 is reduced to one lane between Junction 9 and 10 anticlockwise. Emergency repairs are taking place after an earlier road collapse. Restrictions on the route will last until 4pm at least.

Emergency repairs on the M25 could continue until 4pm, according to local police. Three lanes have been closed since early this morning, after the surface of the road became damaged in heavy rain.

In a statement the Highways Agency said: “Three lanes on the anti-clockwise M25 and the exit slip road at junction 9 remain closed as we work to investigate the cause of, and to repair a defect in the road surface.

"Safety is our top priority and we are doing all we can to reopen the lanes quickly as possible.

"In the meantime we advise drivers to avoid this section of the anti-clockwise M25 and seek alternative routes."

Tailbacks caused my problems with the road surface on the M25 near Leatherhead have now reached 20 miles long, according to traffic cameras. Drivers have spent more than three hours in traffic as the anti-clockwise section near Junction 9 was reduced to one lane. Highways Agency workers are working to repair the carriageway, and confirmed there were roadworks in the area overnight. A spokesman said: "We are trying to find out from the road contractor what is going on, but at the moment we just know that there is a defect."

The AA has described the M25 as "the Road to Hell" after a problem with the road surface led to three lanes being closed near Leatherhead. Tailbacks of up to 20 miles have been reported, with the Highways Agency warning the closures could last until lunchtime. AA president Edmund King said "The M25 is critical to the nation and today's incident highlights just how dependant we are on it to funtion 24/7"