Editing M25 motorway (section)

===Widening===
[[File:Widening of the M25 Motorway near South Mimms.jpg|thumb|Widening of the M25 Motorway near South Mimms]]

In 2006, the Highways Agency proposed widening {{convert|63|mi|km}} of the M25 from six to eight lanes, between junctions 5 and 6, and 16 to 30, as part of a Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) project.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/7717.aspx|title=Prequalification Document|work=Highways Agency|access-date=20 January 2008|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20081107095325/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/7717.aspx|archive-date=7 November 2008}}</ref> A shortlist of contractors was announced in October 2006 for the project, which was expected to cost £4.5{{nbsp}}billion.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.contractjournal.com/Articles/2006/10/13/52504/highways-agency-announces-shortlist-for-4.5bn-m25-dbfo.html |title=Highways Agency announces shortlist for £4.5bn M25 DBFO |publisher=Contract Journal |access-date=20 January 2008 |archive-date=16 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116183257/http://www.contractjournal.com/Articles/2006/10/13/52504/highways-agency-announces-shortlist-for-4.5bn-m25-dbfo.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Contractors were asked to resubmit their bids in January 2008,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/archive/highways-agency-calls-for-m25-widening-bids-to-be-resubmitted-16-01-2008/ |title=Highways Agency calls for M25 widening bids to be resubmitted |publisher=Construction Journal |date=16 January 2008 |author=Andrea Klettner |access-date=20 January 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812103507/https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/archive/highways-agency-calls-for-m25-widening-bids-to-be-resubmitted-16-01-2008/ |archive-date=12 August 2020}}</ref> and in June 2009 the new transport minister indicated that the cost had risen to £5.5{{nbsp}}billion and the benefit to cost ratio had dropped considerably.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/cost-escalation-hits-m25-widening-benefit-to-cost-ratios-16-06-2009/|title=Cost escalation hits M25 widening benefit to cost ratios|magazine=New Civil Engineer|date=16 June 2009}}</ref> In January 2009 the government announced that plans to widen the sections from junctions 5 to 7 and 23 to 27 had been 'scrapped' and that hard shoulder running would be introduced instead. However, widening to four lanes was reinstated in the 2013–14 Highways Agency Business Plan.<ref name=bp>{{cite web|url=http://assets.highways.gov.uk/about-us/corporate-documents-business-plans/S120450_Highways_Agency_Business_Plan_2013-14.pdf |title=Business Plan 2013–14 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515101239/http://assets.highways.gov.uk/about-us/corporate-documents-business-plans/S120450_Highways_Agency_Business_Plan_2013-14.pdf |archive-date=15 May 2013 |work=Highways Agency}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jan/18/motorways-geoff-hoon|title=Ministers scrap plan to widen motorways | newspaper=The Guardian | location=London | first=Toby | last=Helm | date=18 January 2009 | access-date=12 May 2010}}</ref>

In 2009, a £6.2{{nbsp}}billion M25 DBFO [[private finance initiative]] contract<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article6322870.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612191248/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article6322870.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 June 2011|title=PFI deal for M25 agreed despite price rise | newspaper=The Times | location=London | first=Ben | last=Webster | date=20 May 2009 | access-date=12 May 2010}}</ref> was awarded to Connect Plus to widen the sections between junctions 16 to 23 and 27 to 30, and maintain the M25 and the Dartford Crossing for a 30-year period.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/news/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=174136|title=£6.2 billion M25 Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract awarded|work=Highways Agency|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20091115022317/http://www.highways.gov.uk/news/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=174136|archive-date=15 November 2009}}</ref>

Work to widen the section between junctions 16 (M40) and 23 (A1(M)) to dual four lanes<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/5747.aspx |title=M25 Jct 16 to 23 Widening |work=Highways Agency|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910043422/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/5747.aspx |archive-date=10 September 2012 }}</ref> started in July 2009 at an estimated cost of £580{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8139940.stm|title=M25 widening to four lanes begins|work=BBC News | date=8 July 2009 | access-date=12 May 2010}}</ref> The junction 16 to 21 (M1) section was completed by July 2011 and the junction 21 to 23 by June 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/13825.aspx|title=Highways Agency Timetable|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080926033144/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/13825.aspx|archive-date=26 September 2008}}</ref> Works to widen the junctions 27 (M11) to 30 (A13) section to dual four lanes also started in July 2009. The junction 27 to 28 (A12) section was completed in July 2010,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fleetdirectory.co.uk/fleet-news/index.php/2009/09/30/weekly-summary-of-roadworks-in-m25-sphere-30092009/|title=Weekly Summary of Roadworks in M25 Sphere – 30 September 2009|work=Fleet Directory|access-date=11 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002035548/http://www.fleetdirectory.co.uk/fleet-news/index.php/2009/09/30/weekly-summary-of-roadworks-in-m25-sphere-30092009/|archive-date=2 October 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the junction 28 to 29 (A127) in June 2011, and finally the junction 29 to 30 (A13) section opened in May 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/5739.aspx |title=M25 Jct 27 to 30 Widening |work=Highways Agency |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329130227/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/5739.aspx |archive-date= 29 March 2012 }}</ref>

Work to introduce smart motorway technology and permanent [[Shoulder (road)|hard shoulder running]] on two sections of the M25 began in 2013. The first section between junctions 5 (A21/M26) and 7 (M23) started construction in May 2013 with the scheme being completed and opened in April 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/5735.aspx|title=M25 Junctions 5 to 7 Managed Motorways|work=Highway Agency|access-date=11 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908034609/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/5735.aspx|archive-date=8 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The second section, between junctions 23 (A1/A1(M)) and 27 (M11), began construction in February 2013 and was completed and opened in November 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/5743.aspx|title=M25 Junctions 23 to 27 Managed Motorways|work=Highways Agency|access-date=10 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817142908/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/5743.aspx|archive-date=17 August 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In December 2016, Highways England completed the capacity project at junction 30 (Thurrock) as part of the [[Thames Gateway]] Delivery Plan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/m25-junction-30a13-corridor-relieving-congestion-scheme/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910054525/http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/m25-junction-30a13-corridor-relieving-congestion-scheme/|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 September 2017|title=M25 Junction 30 A13 corridor relieving congestion scheme|date=10 September 2017|work=Highways England}}</ref> The £100{{nbsp}}million scheme included widening the M25 to four lanes, adding additional link roads, and improvements to drainage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.highwaysindustry.com/m25-junction-officially-open-after-100million-upgrade/|title=M25 junction officially open after £100million upgrade|work=Highways Industry|date=2 December 2016|access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref>

Work began to widen the M25 and A3 around junction 10 in November 2022.<ref>{{cite news| url  = https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/m25-a3-wisley-interchange-looks-30194375 |title=M25 and A3 Wisley interchange looks unrecognisable in video showing new bridge works|work=Get Surrey|date=21 October 2024|accessdate=25 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-65327256 | title = M25: Thousands of trees replanted after widening work | date = 21 April 2023 | work = BBC News|access-date=25 October 2024}}</ref> The project is intended to limit congestion at the junction and allow traffic to proceed more safely.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/m25-junction-10-project-profile/|title=M25 junction 10 project profile|date=15 May 2024 |publisher=National Highways|access-date=27 October 2024}}</ref> However, these plans caused concerns about the amount of woodland that would be required.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fleming|first=Eleanor|date=18 August 2020|title=RHS Wisley's 'last chance' to save 'irreplaceable' trees from M25-A3 scheme | url = https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/rhs-wisley-highways-england-plans-18786153|access-date=18 August 2020|website=SurreyLive}}</ref>

In March 2024, National Highways announced the first all-day closure of the M25 in its operational history. The motorway was closed between junctions 10 and 11 from 15–18 March in order to remove a bridleway bridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nationalhighways.co.uk/article/m25-braced-for-first-ever-planned-full-closure-as-drivers-warned-of-long-delays-and-told-to-only-travel-if-necessary/|title=M25 braced for first ever planned full closure as drivers warned of long delays and told to only travel if necessary|work=National Highways|date=5 March 2024|accessdate=6 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68482948|title=M25 section to close for entire weekend|work=BBC News|date=6 March 2024|accessdate=6 March 2024}}</ref> The road was closed completely for two other occasions that year, with a final two closures scheduled for 2025.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jq5p7nyn1o|title=No more M25 weekend closures in 2024|work=BBC News|date=18 July 2024|access-date=27 October 2024}}</ref>