The M25 motorway, one of the UK's busiest and most critical road networks, saw major disruption on Friday morning after a multi-vehicle crash during peak commuting hours.

The incident, which occurred near Wisley between Junction 10 and Junction 11, led to long queues, extended travel times, and frustration for thousands of motorists heading towards key routes around London and Surrey.

As the crash unfolded just after dawn, traffic conditions deteriorated rapidly, highlighting how even a short-lived incident on the M25 can have a widespread ripple effect across surrounding road networks.

M25 Traffic Closure

Authorities moved quickly to shut multiple lanes on the clockwise carriageway to manage the situation safely. At the height of the disruption, three of the four lanes were closed, significantly reducing traffic flow and creating a bottleneck on an already congested stretch of road.

The closures came at the worst possible time, during the morning rush hour - when traffic volumes are typically at their highest. Vehicles were forced to slow to a crawl, with some drivers reporting near standstill conditions for extended periods. Although the lanes reopened just after 8 am, the backlog of traffic took much longer to disperse fully.

What Happened on the M25 Motorway?

The incident involved a collision between three vans and two cars on the clockwise side of the motorway. Initial reports from Inrix at around 6:12 am indicated that the crash had already begun to cause significant delays.

Given the number of vehicles involved, recovery operations required careful coordination, which contributed to the extended lane closures. The crash location - between J10 (Wisley Interchange) and J11 (Chertsey) - is a known pressure point on the M25, making it particularly vulnerable to severe congestion when incidents occur.

M25 Traffic Crash: Emergency Response

Emergency services responded promptly to the situation, with teams from Surrey Police, traffic officers, and ambulance crews arriving at the scene shortly after the crash was reported.

Their immediate priority was to secure the area, assist those involved, and prevent further incidents in the heavy traffic conditions. Recovery vehicles were deployed to clear damaged vehicles from the carriageway, while officers managed traffic flow and ensured driver safety. The swift and coordinated response played a key role in reopening the motorway within a relatively short timeframe.

M25 Traffic Crash: Which Roads are Closed?

The incident primarily affected the clockwise carriageway of the M25 motorway between:

• Junction 10 (A3 Wisley Interchange)
• Junction 11 (A320 St. Peters Way, Chertsey)
• Lanes 3 and 4 were closed at the peak of the incident, with traffic restricted to limited lanes.
• Congestion extended back towards Cobham Services and impacted traffic approaching from earlier junctions.
• On the opposite carriageway, slowdowns were reported up to Junction 13 (Staines) due to onlookers.
• Slip roads connecting to the A3 and A320 also experienced heavy congestion and slower movement.

M25 Traffic Crash: Diversion Routes

Motorists were advised to avoid the affected stretch and use:

• A3 (Guildford to London route) as a primary diversion
• A320 (Chertsey-Woking route) for local connectivity

Additional alternatives included:

• Local Surrey roads via Byfleet, West Byfleet, and Woking
• Diversions through Guildford town routes to bypass J10 congestion
• Drivers travelling clockwise were advised to exit early at Junction 9 (Leatherhead) or later at Junction 12 (Thorpe) where possible.
• National Highways recommended checking live traffic updates before rerouting.
• Commuters were encouraged to delay travel or consider public transport options due to heavy congestion on diversion routes.

M25 Traffic Crash: Official Updates & Impact

National Highways said, "#M25 clockwise between J10 (#Guildford) and J11 (#Woking) all lanes have reopened following a collision.

"There are currently delays of 45 minutes and 6 miles of congestion on the approach."

At its peak, delays reached up to 45 minutes, with congestion stretching approximately six miles. The incident not only affected those directly on the M25 but also had knock-on effects across surrounding roads. Additionally, onlookers on the opposite carriageway caused minor slowdowns in the anti-clockwise direction.

M25 Traffic Crash: Helpline Numbers