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Coordinates: 51°32′53″N 0°31′4″W / 51.54806°N 0.51778°W / 51.54806; -0.51778
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To the east of London the two ends of the M25 are joined, to complete the loop, by the non-motorway [[A282 road|A282]] [[Dartford Crossing]] of the [[Thames|River Thames]] between [[Thurrock]] and [[Dartford]]. This crossing, which consists of twin two-lane tunnels and the four-lane [[QE2 Bridge|QE2 (Queen Elizabeth II) bridge]], is named ''Canterbury Way''. Passage across the bridge or through the tunnels is subject to a [[toll road|toll]], depending on the kind of vehicle. This stretch being non-motorway allows all traffic, including that not permitted to use motorways, to cross the [[River Thames]] east of the [[Woolwich Ferry]].
To the east of London the two ends of the M25 are joined, to complete the loop, by the non-motorway [[A282 road|A282]] [[Dartford Crossing]] of the [[Thames|River Thames]] between [[Thurrock]] and [[Dartford]]. This crossing, which consists of twin two-lane tunnels and the four-lane [[QE2 Bridge|QE2 (Queen Elizabeth II) bridge]], is named ''Canterbury Way''. Passage across the bridge or through the tunnels is subject to a [[toll road|toll]], depending on the kind of vehicle. This stretch being non-motorway allows all traffic, including that not permitted to use motorways, to cross the [[River Thames]] east of the [[Woolwich Ferry]].


Junction 5 (near [[Sevenoaks]]) is formed of two dual carriageways crossing at a grade-separated junction. The northbound and westbound arms of the junction form the M25, the eastbound arm forms the [[M26 motorway|M26]] and the southbound arm the [[A21 road (England)|A21]]. Drivers who wish to stay on the M25 while traversing the junction need to leave the main carriageway and join the other road via the appropriate connector roads.
At Junction 5 (near [[Sevenoaks]]), the M25 does not follow the line of the main carriageways, but follows a route from one [[dual carriageway]] to another via [[List of road-related terminology|connector roads]]&mdash;when the M25 was first conceived it was known as the "[[A25 road|A25 relief road]]" and was to have followed the route that now hosts the [[M26 motorway|M26]], but was subsequently routed northwards towards the [[Dartford Tunnel]].<ref>{{cite web
|title = M25 in South East Region
|publisher = The Motorway Archive
|url = http://www.ukmotorwayarchive.org/
|year = 2009
|Accessdate = 17 April 2013}}</ref>


The distance of the motorway from central London (taken as [[Charing Cross]]) varies from {{convert|12.5|mi|km}} near [[Potters Bar]] to {{convert|19.5|mi|km}} near Byfleet. In some places (Enfield, Hillingdon and Havering) the [[List of Greater London boundary changes|Greater London boundary has been realigned]] to the M25 for minor stretches; while in others, most notably in Essex and Surrey, it is many miles inwards. Major towns such as [[Epsom]], and [[Watford]] are within the M25. [[North Ockendon]] is the only settlement of Greater London situated outside the M25. In 2004, following an opinion poll, a move was mooted by the [[London Assembly]] to align the Greater London boundary with the M25.<ref>Any such move would be bound to be resisted by the communities affected, including such major towns as Watford, Loughton and Epsom.[http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release_a.jsp?releaseid=3002 London Assembly] – ''Poll says M25 is London's "natural boundary"''. 2 March 2004.</ref> "Inside the M25" and "outside the M25" or "beyond the M25" are used colloquially to refer to London and the provinces; the [[Communications Act 2003]] explicitly uses the M25 as the boundary in requiring a proportion of television programmes to be made outside the London area.<ref>{{citation | url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21 | title=Communications Act 2003 | publisher=The National Archive | year=2003 | accessdate=5 September 2011}} requires "a suitable proportion of the programmes made in the United Kingdom" to be made "in the United Kingdom outside the M25 area", defined in Section 362 as "the area the outer boundary of which is represented by the London Orbital Motorway (M25)".</ref>
The distance of the motorway from central London (taken as [[Charing Cross]]) varies from {{convert|12.5|mi|km}} near [[Potters Bar]] to {{convert|19.5|mi|km}} near Byfleet. In some places (Enfield, Hillingdon and Havering) the [[List of Greater London boundary changes|Greater London boundary has been realigned]] to the M25 for minor stretches; while in others, most notably in Essex and Surrey, it is many miles inwards. Major towns such as [[Epsom]], and [[Watford]] are within the M25. [[North Ockendon]] is the only settlement of Greater London situated outside the M25. In 2004, following an opinion poll, a move was mooted by the [[London Assembly]] to align the Greater London boundary with the M25.<ref>Any such move would be bound to be resisted by the communities affected, including such major towns as Watford, Loughton and Epsom.[http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release_a.jsp?releaseid=3002 London Assembly] – ''Poll says M25 is London's "natural boundary"''. 2 March 2004.</ref> "Inside the M25" and "outside the M25" or "beyond the M25" are used colloquially to refer to London and the provinces; the [[Communications Act 2003]] explicitly uses the M25 as the boundary in requiring a proportion of television programmes to be made outside the London area.<ref>{{citation | url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21 | title=Communications Act 2003 | publisher=The National Archive | year=2003 | accessdate=5 September 2011}} requires "a suitable proportion of the programmes made in the United Kingdom" to be made "in the United Kingdom outside the M25 area", defined in Section 362 as "the area the outer boundary of which is represented by the London Orbital Motorway (M25)".</ref>

Revision as of 19:50, 17 April 2013

M25 shield
M25
M25 is highlighted in dark blue.
Route information
Part of E15 E30
Length117 mi (188 km)
Existed1975–present
HistoryCompleted 1975–86
Major junctions
Orbital around London
Major intersections
J2 → M2 motorway


J3 → M20 motorway

J5 → M26 motorway

J7 → M23 motorway Junction 8


J12 → M3 motorway Junction 2

J15 → M4 motorway Junction 4b

J16 → M40 motorway Junction 1a

J21 → M1 motorway Junction 6a

J23 → A1(M) motorway Junction 1

J27 → M11 motorway Junction 6
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
Primary
destinations		London, Dartford, Sevenoaks, Reigate, Staines, Heathrow Airport , Enfield, Watford
Road network

The M25 motorway or London Orbital motorway is a 117-mile (188 km) motorway that (almost) encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century as part of the plan to build four ring roads around London. A few sections, based on the abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it was completed in 1986. At 117 miles (188 km) (including the A282), the M25 is Europe's second longest orbital road after the Berliner Ring, which is 122 miles (196 km) long.

It is one of the busiest and most congested parts of the British motorway network: 196,000 vehicles were recorded in a single day near London Heathrow Airport. Plans to widen additional sections to eight lanes (four each way) were scaled back in 2009 in response to rising costs.[1]

Description

Carriageway widths of the M25 November 2009

Originally built mainly as a dual three-lane motorway, much of the motorway has subsequently been widened to dual four-lanes in places and to a dual five-lane section between junctions 12 and 14 and a dual six-lane between junctions 14 and 15. Further widening is in progress with plans for managed motorways on other sections.

To the east of London the two ends of the M25 are joined, to complete the loop, by the non-motorway A282 Dartford Crossing of the River Thames between Thurrock and Dartford. This crossing, which consists of twin two-lane tunnels and the four-lane QE2 (Queen Elizabeth II) bridge, is named Canterbury Way. Passage across the bridge or through the tunnels is subject to a toll, depending on the kind of vehicle. This stretch being non-motorway allows all traffic, including that not permitted to use motorways, to cross the River Thames east of the Woolwich Ferry.

At Junction 5 (near Sevenoaks), the M25 does not follow the line of the main carriageways, but follows a route from one dual carriageway to another via connector roads—when the M25 was first conceived it was known as the "A25 relief road" and was to have followed the route that now hosts the M26, but was subsequently routed northwards towards the Dartford Tunnel.[2]

The distance of the motorway from central London (taken as Charing Cross) varies from 12.5 miles (20.1 km) near Potters Bar to 19.5 miles (31.4 km) near Byfleet. In some places (Enfield, Hillingdon and Havering) the Greater London boundary has been realigned to the M25 for minor stretches; while in others, most notably in Essex and Surrey, it is many miles inwards. Major towns such as Epsom, and Watford are within the M25. North Ockendon is the only settlement of Greater London situated outside the M25. In 2004, following an opinion poll, a move was mooted by the London Assembly to align the Greater London boundary with the M25.[3] "Inside the M25" and "outside the M25" or "beyond the M25" are used colloquially to refer to London and the provinces; the Communications Act 2003 explicitly uses the M25 as the boundary in requiring a proportion of television programmes to be made outside the London area.[4]

There are two Motorway service areas on the M25 and two directly accessible from it. Those on it are located at Clacket Lane between junctions 5 and 6 (to the south-east of London) and Cobham between junctions 9 and 10 (to the south-west of London). Those directly accessible from it are South Mimms off junction 23 (to the north of London) and Thurrock off junction 31 (to the east of London). Cobham services were opened on 13 September 2012.[5][6]

Much of the M25 is lit to help reduce accidents. The current illuminated sections are from Dartford to junction 3, junction 5, junctions 6 to 21a and junctions 23 to 31. The type of lighting varies. Some sections use the older yellow low-pressure sodium (SOX) lighting while others use modern high-pressure sodium (SON) lighting. Some stretches have recently been upgraded to SON lighting. These include Junction 5, junctions around Heathrow and Junction 27.

The motorway passes through six counties, as well as some of Greater London. Junctions 1a–5 are in Kent, 6–13 are in Surrey, apart from a small stretch between junctions 12 and 13 which is in Berkshire. Junction 14 is on the Surrey – Greater London border, 15 is on the Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Greater London border, 16 is in Buckinghamshire, 17–24 are in Hertfordshire, 25 is in Greater London (the Hertfordshire border going around the junction's northern edge), 26–28 in Essex, 29 in Greater London and 30–31 in Essex. Policing of the road is carried out by an integrated policing group made up of the Metropolitan, Thames Valley, Essex, Kent, Hertfordshire and Surrey forces.

The M25 is one of Europe's busiest motorways. In 2003, 196,000 vehicles a day were recorded on the motorway just south of London Heathrow Airport between junctions 13 and 14.[7]

History

Plans and construction

Map of Ringways 3 & 4 showing sections combined to form the M25
The M25 motorway looking south between junctions 14 and 15, near Heathrow Airport. The red light from the overhead gantry, just visible in the distance, is the MIDAS system indicating a reduced speed limit due to congestion.
The M4/M25 motorway junction, near Heathrow Airport
The M25 between junction 24 (A111, Potters Bar) and 25 (A10, Waltham Cross & Enfield)
The M25 between junctions 7 (M23) and 6 (A22) near Reigate, Surrey. The signs are indicating an advisory reduced speed of 40 mph (64 km/h) due to congestion.

A precursor of the M25 was the North Orbital Road (see A414 road).

The idea of an orbital road around London was first proposed early in the 20th century and then re-examined in Sir Charles Bressey's and Sir Edwin Lutyens' The Highway Development Survey, 1937. Sir Patrick Abercrombie's County of London Plan, 1943 and Greater London Plan, 1944 proposed a series of five roads encircling the capital. The northern sections of the M25 follow a similar route to the World War II Outer London Defence Ring.

Little was done to progress these plans until the 1960s when the Greater London Council developed their London Ringways plan[8] which consisted of four 'rings' around the capital. Sections of the two outer rings – Ringway 3 (the 'M16 motorway') and Ringway 4 were constructed in the early 1970s and these were later integrated into the single M25 orbital motorway. The Ringways plan was however hugely controversial due to the destruction required for the inner two ring roads (Ringway 1 and Ringway 2). Parts of Ringway 1 were constructed (including West Cross Route and Westway) against stiff opposition before the overall plan was abandoned in 1973 following pressure from residents in the threatened areas.

Construction of parts of the two outer ring roads, Ringways 3 and 4, were however started in 1973. The first section, between South Mimms and Potters Bar in Hertfordshire (junction 23 to junction 24) opened in September 1975 and was given the temporary general purpose road designation A1178; a section south of London (junction 6 to junction 8) opened in 1976. A section of Ringway 3 south of the river between Dartford and Swanley (junction 1 to junction 3) was constructed between 1974 and 1977.

In 1975 the plans for Ringway 3 were modified to combine it with Ringway 4, the outermost Ringway. The combined motorway was given the designation M25 which had originally been intended for the southern and western part of Ringway 4 and the M16 designation was dropped. The section of Ringway 3 west of South Mimms anti-clockwise around London to Swanley in Kent was cancelled. The stages were not constructed contiguously but in small sections. As the orbital road developed the sections were linked. Each section was presented to planning authorities in its own right and was individually justified, with almost 40 public inquiries relating to sections of the route. Maps at this time depicting these short sections named the route as the M16 but this changed before completion.

The section from Potters Bar to the Dartford Tunnel was constructed between 1979 and 1982. Construction of the M25 continued in stages until its completion in 1986. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher officially opened the M25 on 29 October 1986, with a ceremony in the section between J22 and J23 (London Colney and South Mimms). The initial tenders for the construction of the M25 totalled £631.9 million. This did not include compulsory purchase of land and subsequent upgrades and repairs.

Operational history

Soon after the motorway opened in 1986 traffic levels exceeded maximum designed capacity and in 1990 the Secretary of State for Transport announced plans to widen the whole of the M25 to four lanes.[9] By 1993 the motorway that was designed for a maximum of 88,000 vehicles per day was carrying 200,000,[10] 15% of UK motorway traffic volume was on the M25 and there were plans to add 6 lanes to the section from Junction 12 to 15 as well widening the rest of the motorway to 4 lanes[11]

In 1995 a contract was awarded to widen the section between junctions 8 and 10 from six to eight lanes for a cost of £93.4 million[12] and a Motorway Incident Detection and Automatic Signalling (MIDAS) system was introduced to the M25 from junction 10 to junction 15 at a cost of £13.5m in 1995 and then extended to junction 16 at a cost of £11.7m in 2002. This consists of a distributed network of traffic and weather sensors, speed cameras and variable-speed signs that control traffic speeds with little human supervision, and has improved traffic flow slightly, and reduced the amount of start-stop driving.[13]

In 1995 there was a proposal to widen the section close to Heathrow Airport to 14 lanes. This attracted fierce opposition from road protesters opposing the Newbury Bypass and other schemes[14] and it was cancelled shortly afterwards.[15] However, in 1997 the Department of Transport announced new proposals to widen the section from junction 12 (M3) and junction 15 (M4) to 12 lanes. At the Terminal Five public inquiry a Highways Agency official said that the widening was needed to accommodate traffic to the proposed new terminal, however the transport minister said that no such evidence had been given.[16] Environmental groups objected to the decision to go ahead a scheme that would create the widest motorways in the UK without holding a public inquiry.[17] The decision was again deferred. A decision to go-ahead was given for a 10-lane scheme in 1998[18] and the £148 million 'M25 Jct 12 to 15 Widening' contract was awarded to Balfour Beatty in 2003.[19] The scheme was completed in 2005 as dual-five lane between junctions 12 to 14 and dual six lanes from 14 to 15.[20]

In 2007 capacity at junction 25 (A10/Waltham Cross) was increased and the Holmesdale Tunnel was widened to 3 lanes in an eastern direction at a cost of £75 million.[21]

Work to widen the exit slip-roads in both directions at Junction 28 (A12 road/A1023) was completed in 2008. It was designed to reduce the amount of traffic queueing on the slip roads at busy periods, particularly traffic from the clockwise M25 joining the northbound A12 where the queue can extend onto the inside lane of the Motorway.[22]

Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract

In 2006 the Highways Agency proposed to widen 63 miles (101 km) of M25 from six to eight lanes, between junctions 5–6 and 16–30 as part of a Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) project.[23] A shortlist of contractors was announced in October 2006 for the project which was expected to cost £4.5 billion.[24] Contractors were asked to resubmit their bids in January 2008[25] and in June 2009 the new transport minister indicated that the cost had risen to £5.5 billion and the benefit to cost ratio had dropped considerably.[26] In January 2009 the government announced that plans to widen the sections from Junction 5–7 and from 23–27 had been 'scrapped' and that hard shoulder running would be introduced instead.[27]

In 2009 a £6.2 billion M25 'Design, Build, Finance and Operate' (DBFO) private finance initiative contract[28] was awarded to Connect Plus to widen the sections between junctions 16 and 23 and between junctions 27 and 30 and maintain the M25 and the Dartford Crossing for a 30 year period.[29]

Works to widen the section between junctions 16 and 23 (M40-A1(M)) to dual 4 lanes[30] started in July 2009 at an estimated cost of £580m;[31] The J16-21 section (M40 to M1) was completed by July 2011 and from J21-23 (M1 to the A1(M)) by June 2012.[32] Works to widen the J27-30 section (M11-A13) to dual 4 lanes started in July 2009. J27-28 (M11-A12) was completed in July 2010,[33] J28-29 (A12-A127) in June 2011 and J29-30 (A127-A13) in May 2012.[34]

Proposed developments

M25 Jct 5 to 7 managed motorway

The Highways Agency plans to introduce managed motorway with hard shoulder running on the M25 from Junctions 5 to 7 (M26 – M23/Redhill) with work starting in 2012/3.[35]

M25 possible new junction 10a at Byfleet

There are plans for a junction to connect with the A245 to offer quicker access to Woking Town Centre, although the time frame is not given.[36]

M25 Jct 23 to 27 managed motorway

Inside the Bell Common Tunnel near Epping

The Highways Agency plans to introduce managed motorway with hard shoulder running on the M25 from Junctions 23 to 27 (A1(M)-M11), with work taking place between early 2013 and February 2015.[37]

Junction 30 improvement

Preparation work to increase capacity at Junction 30 (Thurrock) as part of the Thames Gateway Delivery Plan is underway although there is no guarantee of delivery. Plans were announced in 2007. An early estimate on the start of major works was given as 2013/2014.[38] Philip Hammond has confirmed that there will be no funding for the J30 improvements in this spending period, but has announced that preparation work would continue so that the scheme could be funded at a later date.[39]

Lower Thames Crossing

Main article: Lower Thames Crossing

In 2009 the Department for Transport published options for a new Lower Thames Crossing to add capacity to the Dartford Crossing or create a new road and crossing linking to the M2 and M20 motorways.[40]

Comparisons

Other cities encircled by motorways include Manchester using the M60 motorway, Birmingham using parts of the M5, M6 and M42 and from 2011 Glasgow has an orbital motorway made of the M8, M73 and M74 although one section of the route passes through the centre of the city.[41] The M25 is the second-longest ring road in Europe, after the Berlin Ring (A 10) which is 5 miles (8.0 km) longer. The M25 is one of the busiest motorways in Europe:

  • M25 around London: 196,000 vehicles a day recorded in 2003 between junctions 13 and 14 near London Heathrow Airport.[7]
  • A23 (Vienna): More than 200,000 vehicles on an average day.
  • A 100 (Berlin): 216,000 vehicles in a day was recorded in 1998
  • A4 motorway (near Paris): 257,000 vehicles a day recorded in 2002.[42]

Popular culture

The multi-level stack interchange junction with the M23, viewed from a nearby footbridge to the west

Iain Sinclair's book and film London Orbital, which was published in 2002, is based on a year long journey around the M25 on foot.[43]

The M25 (including the A282 Dartford Crossing) is known for its frequent traffic jams. These have been the subject of so much comment from such an early stage that even at the official opening ceremony Margaret Thatcher complained about "those who carp and criticise". The jams have inspired jokes ("the world's biggest car park", "the London Orbital Car Park") and songs (Chris Rea's "The Road to Hell").[44]

The M25 plays an important role in the comedy-fantasy novel Good Omens, being "evidence for the hidden hand of Satan in the affairs of Man".[45] The demon character, Crowley, had manipulated the design of the M25 to resemble a Satanic sigil.[46]

The M25 enjoyed a more positive reputation among ravers in the late 1980s when this new orbital motorway became a popular route to the parties that took place around the outskirts of London. This use of the M25 for these raves inspired the name of electronic duo Orbital.[47]

Racing

M25 between junctions 7 and 6 near Reigate, Surrey

The orbital nature of the motorway, in common with racetracks, lent itself to unofficial, and illegal, motor racing. At the end of the 1980s, before the advent of speed enforcement devices, owners of supercars, many employed in the financial service industry in the City and in Docklands, would meet at night at service stations such as South Mimms and conduct time trials. Times below 1 hour were achieved; an average speed of over 117 mph (188 km/h), which included coming to a halt at the Dartford Tunnel road user charge payment booths.[48][49]

Junctions

Data from driver location signs provide carriageway identifier information.[50] The numbers on the signs are kilometres from a point near the River Thames, east of London, when travelling clockwise on the motorway. The table below gives details of each junction, including the roads interchanged and the destinations that are signed from the motorway. Figures in kilometres are from the driver location signs; figures in miles are derived from them.

A282 road – Dartford Crossing
miles km[50] Clockwise exits (A carriageway)[50] Junction Anti-clockwise exits (B carriageway)
Dartford Crossing A282
Dartford Tunnel 		River Dartford Crossing A282
Queen Elizabeth Bridge
3.5 5.7 Erith A206 J1a Erith A206, Swanscombe (A226)
4.7 7.5 Dartford A225 J1b Exit via J2 – Dartford (A225)
M25 motorway – London Orbital
5.5 8.8 London (South East), Canterbury A2, (M2), Bluewater J2 London (SE & C), Lewisham A2(W), Canterbury A2(E) (M2), Dartford (A225)
8.7 14.0 London (South East) A20
Maidstone M20
Swanley B2173 		J3 Maidstone, Channel Tunnel M20
London (SE & C), Lewisham A20
12.2 19.6 Bromley A21
Orpington A224 		J4 Bromley, London (SE) A21
Orpington (A224)
16.3–16.4 26.2–26.4 Sevenoaks, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Hastings A21 J5 Maidstone, Channel Tunnel, Dover M26 (M20)
Sevenoaks, Hastings A21
21.0 33.8 Clacket Lane services Services Clacket Lane services
25.8 41.6 East Grinstead, Eastbourne, Caterham, Godstone A22
Westerham (A25) 		J6 Eastbourne, Caterham, Godstone A22, Westerham (A25)
28.6 46.0 Gatwick Airport, Crawley, Brighton, East Grinstead, Croydon M23 J7 Gatwick, Brighton, M23(S), Croydon M23(N)
31.9 51.4 Reigate, Sutton A217
Redhill (A25) 		J8 Reigate, Sutton A217
Redhill (A25)
38.5 -
39.5 		62.0 -
63.5 		Leatherhead A243
Dorking (A24) 		J9 Leatherhead A243
Dorking (A24)
42.6 -
43.2 		68.6 -
69.5 		Cobham Services Services Cobham Services
45.0 72.4 London (South West), Sutton, Guildford, Portsmouth A3 J10 London (South West), Guildford, Portsmouth, A3
49.8 80.2 Chertsey A317
Woking A320 		J11 Woking A320
Chertsey A317
52.1 83.8 Basingstoke, Southampton, Richmond M3 J12 Basingstoke, Southampton, Richmond M3
55.2 88.8 A30 London (West), Hounslow, Staines J13 A30 London (West), Hounslow, Staines
57.0 91.8 Heathrow Airport (Terminals 4, 5 and Cargo) A3113 dedicated spur J14 Heathrow Airport (Terminals 4, 5 and Cargo) A3113 dedicated spur
59.0 95.0 The West, Slough, Reading, London (West), Heathrow Airport (Terminals 1, 2 and 3) M4 J15 The West, Slough, Reading M4(W)
London (W), Heathrow (Terminals 1, 2 & 3) M4(E)
63.8 102.6 The North, Birmingham, Oxford, Uxbridge, London (W,C) M40 J16 Birmingham, Oxford M40(W)
Uxbridge, London (W & C) M40(E)
68.7 110.5 Maple Cross (A412) J17 Maple Cross A412
69.9 112.5 Rickmansworth, Chorleywood, Amersham A404 J18 Chorleywood, Amersham, Rickmansworth A404
Watford A41 J19 No exit
73.8 118.7 Hemel Hempstead, Aylesbury A41 J20 Hemel Hempstead, Aylesbury, Watford A41
76.3 122.8 The North, Luton & Airport M1 J21 The North, Luton & Airport M1
76.9 123.7 Watford A405
Harrow (M1 South) 		J21A St Albans A405
London (North West) (M1 (South))
80.6 129.7 London Colney A1081 J22 St Albans A1081
83.3 134.0 Hatfield A1(M)
London (North West) A1
Barnet A1081
South Mimms services 		J23
Services 		Hatfield A1(M), London (NW) A1
Barnet A1081, Services
85.9 138.2 Potters Bar A111 J24 Potters Bar A111
91.4 147.1 Enfield Town, Hertford A10 J25 Enfield, Hertford, London (N & C) A10
94.9 152.7 Waltham Abbey, Loughton A121 J26 Waltham Abbey, Loughton A121
99.2 159.7 London (NE), Stansted Airport, Harlow, Cambridge M11 J27 London (NE & C) M11(N), Stansted, Harlow, Cambridge M11(S)
107.1 172.4 Chelmsford, Witham, Colchester A12
Brentwood A1023 		J28 Chelmsford, Romford A12
Brentwood A1023
109.9 176.8 Romford, Basildon, Southend A127 J29 Basildon, Southend, Romford A127
115.2 185.4 Dagenham, Rainham, Tilbury, Barking, London (E & C) A13
Thurrock services 		J30 Dagenham, Rainham, Tilbury, Basildon, London (E & C) A13, West Thurrock (A126)
A282 Road – Dartford Crossing
115.9 186.6 Access via J30 J31
Services 		Thurrock (Lakeside), Services A1306, Purfleet (A1090), West Thurrock (A126)
Dartford Crossing A282
Dartford Tunnel 		River Dartford Crossing A282
Queen Elizabeth Bridge
Notes
  • Distances in kilometres and carriageway identifiers are obtained from driver location signs/location marker posts. Where a junction spans several hundred metres and the data is available, both the start and finish values for the junction are shown.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Anti-clockwise information above gathered from Advanced Direction Signs August 2011 (J9 – J22, J20 – J15)

References

  1. ^ Webster, Ben (25 June 2009). "Rising costs put the brakes on dozens of roadbuilding projects". The Times. London. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  2. ^ "M25 in South East Region". The Motorway Archive. 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |Accessdate= ignored (|accessdate= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Any such move would be bound to be resisted by the communities affected, including such major towns as Watford, Loughton and Epsom.London Assembly – Poll says M25 is London's "natural boundary". 2 March 2004.
  4. ^ Communications Act 2003, The National Archive, 2003, retrieved 5 September 2011 requires "a suitable proportion of the programmes made in the United Kingdom" to be made "in the United Kingdom outside the M25 area", defined in Section 362 as "the area the outer boundary of which is represented by the London Orbital Motorway (M25)".
  5. ^ "M25 MSA New Barn Farm Cobham". Highways Agency. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  6. ^ "Cobham M25 service station opened". BBC News. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Motorway traffic up 4% on 2003". BBC News. 12 August 2004. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  8. ^ London Ringways Plan http://www.cbrd.co.uk/histories/ringways/ Retrieved 2013-01-06
  9. ^ "Hansard 3 December 1990 Written Answers (Commons) Transport".
  10. ^ "The bluffer's briefing on: The M25". The Independent. London. 24 March 1993. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  11. ^ "M25 (Widening)". Hansard.
  12. ^ "M25 scoop for Balfour in Surrey".
  13. ^ "Case Study – M25 Controlled Motorway". Highways Agency.
  14. ^ Wolmar, Christian (4 April 1995). "The roadblock that became a bandwagon". The Independent. London. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  15. ^ Cohen, Nick (2 April 1995). "Pointless lies that reveal so much". The Independent. London. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  16. ^ Wolmar, Christian (21 March 1997). "Minister gives green light to widen M25". The Independent. London. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  17. ^ "Plans to widen M25 to 12 lanes under attack".
  18. ^ "BAA makes plans for Terminal 5 despite inquiry".
  19. ^ "M25 Junctions 12 – 15 Widening". In 2003, Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering was awarded the £148 million contract to widen the 10-mile stretch of the M25, between Junction 12 (the M3 Interchange) and Junction 15 (the M4 Interchange).
  20. ^ "M25 Jct 12 to 15 Widening". Highways Agency.
  21. ^ "£75 MILLION REFURBISHMENT FOR M25 HOLMESDALE TUNNEL AND JUNCTION 25 IMPROVEMENT WORK STARTS ON SATURDAY 6 May". Highways Agency.
  22. ^ "M25 Junction 28 / A12 / Brook Street Interchange". Highways Agency.
  23. ^ "Prequalification Document". Highways Agency. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  24. ^ "Highways Agency announces shortlist for £4.5bn M25 DBFO". Contract Journal. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  25. ^ Andrea Klettner (16 January 2008). "Highways Agency calls for M25 widening bids to be resubmitted". Construction Journal. Retrieved 20 January 2008. [dead link]
  26. ^ "Cost escalation hits M25 widening benefit to cost ratios".
  27. ^ Helm, Toby (18 January 2009). "Ministers scrap plan to widen motorways". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  28. ^ Webster, Ben (20 May 2009). "PFI deal for M25 agreed despite price rise". The Times. London. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  29. ^ "£6.2 billion M25 Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract awarded". Highways Agency.
  30. ^ "M25 Jct 16 to 23 Widening".
  31. ^ "M25 widening to four lanes begins". BBC News. 8 July 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  32. ^ "Highways Agency Timetable".
  33. ^ "Weekly Summary of Roadworks in M25 Sphere – 30 September 2009".
  34. ^ "M25 Jct 27 to 30 Widening".
  35. ^ "M25 Junctions 5 to 7 Managed Motorways".
  36. ^ "Junction10aconsultation" (PDF).
  37. ^ "M25 Junctions 23 to 27 Managed Motorways".
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  45. ^ "Good Omens Annotations".
  46. ^ Pratchett, Terry; Gaiman, Neil (1993). Good Omens. London: Corgi Books. p. 19. ISBN 0552137030.
  47. ^ "Orbital information". Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  48. ^ May, James (20 October 2007). "Speed, Greed And The M25". BBC Radio 4.
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  50. ^ a b c "M25 Road Network Driver Location Signs" (PDF). Highways Agency. Retrieved 9 June 2009.

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to M25 motorway.

51°32′53″N 0°31′4″W / 51.54806°N 0.51778°W / 51.54806; -0.51778

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