M25 junction 28 improvements

Upgrading junction 28 of the M25 between the M25 and the A12 in Essex.

Start date 2022
End date 2025
Cost £140 million to £170 million

Latest updates

  • 07 November 2024

    Upcoming traffic management

    M25 junction 28 clockwise exit slip full weekend closures

    The M25 clockwise exit slip at junction 28 will be closed for two weekends from 11pm Friday 8 November to 5am Monday 11 November and again at 11pm Friday 15 November to 5am Monday 18 November. 

    The closures will be the next in a series of weekend closures needed, with more dates to be announced, to build the base for a new overhead gantry that will span the width of the M25. Over the next two weekends, we will be pouring the concrete foundations needed to support the gantry. 

    Diversion

    During the closure we'll put a signed diversion in place:

    • by the M25 clockwise to junction 29
    • returning on the anticlockwise carriageway to junction 28  

  • 07 October 2024

    Current A12 eastbound lane closure traffic management

    We currently have one lane closed on the A12 eastbound approach to the M25 J28 interchange, next to our site compound. The lane will be closed until summer 2025 while we construct the new A12 exit slip and its connections to the existing A12. 

    Letters and other external communications were sent as the closure continued, but any additional information can be found on the website or by contacting the project team.

  • 27 September 2024

    Work continues on the overhead gantry base

    We'll soon be continuing the construction of the new overhead gantry base.

    During recent weekend closures of the clockwise exit slip, we made great progress preparing the ground for the gantry base foundations.

    Weekend closure 

    M25 clockwise exit slip at junction 28 -  Friday 4 October 11pm to Monday 7 October 5am

    We need the weekend closure for work on the base that will support the gantry.

    Diversion

    During the closure we'll put a signed diversion in place:

    • by the M25 clockwise to junction 29
    • returning on the anticlockwise carriageway to junction 28  

  • 26 September 2024

    Celebrating health and safety milestone

    The project team has celebrated a health and safety milestone: 650,000 hours without any reportable or Lost Time Incidents (LTI).

    This fantastic achievement was made possible through the commitment of our staff and supply chain on retaining a safe environment for everyone. 

    To mark the occasion, the team held a safety stand down and invited the site team to the main compound for a presentation on the upcoming high-risk activities planned as they work towards completion. They finished the day with a tasty barbecue to recognise the achievement. 

    National Highways Project Manager Zachary Pepper said: “It is a great achievement for the project to reach this milestone, which marks the significance of health and safety on site. 

    “The work completed by the integrated project team, including the construction team, suppliers and subcontractors, embeds the focus on the Home Safe and Well promise.”

    GRAHAM Project Manager Hugh McNally said: “Significant progress has been made on the project over the last two years and this achievement is a direct result of everyone’s commitment to safety on the scheme. We now refocus to ensure we continue to deliver the project safely and successfully to completion in summer 2025.”

     

  • 19 September 2024

    Upcoming traffic management

    A12 eastbound and M25 anticlockwise entry slip overnight closure - 21 September

    We'll close the A12 eastbound from Gallows Corner to the M25 Junction 28 overnight on Saturday 21 September from 10pm-5am.

    This is so our team can safely move and install temporary safety barriers.

    During the closure, the M25 junction 28 anticlockwise entry slip will also be closed. 

    We'll maintain local access for residents with properties on the A12.

    However,  there'll be no access for through traffic during this closure.  

    Diversion Routes

    To join the M25 anticlockwise from Gallows Corner

    Use the A127 eastbound to join the anticlockwise carriageway at M25 junction 29.

    You can also use this diversion to join the A12 eastbound by leaving the anticlockwise carriageway at junction 28.

    To join the M25 anticlockwise carriageway from the A12 westbound

    Join the M25 junction 28 clockwise and do a U-turn at junction 29. 

    Non motorway traffic heading to the A12 eastbound from Gallows Corner should follow our signed diversion route by:

    • the A127
    • Squirrels Heath Road
    • Shepherds Hill
    • Nags Head Lane. 

    Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network

  • 30 August 2024

    Clockwise exit slip road closures

    We are closing one slip road from junction 28 over the following weekends:

    • Friday 6 September 11pm to Monday 9 September 5am
    • Friday 13 September 11pm to Monday 16 September 5am

    When we close the clockwise exit slip road, it means you can still travel through the junction itself.

    However, if your journey involves leaving the M25 at junction 28, you won’t be able to do so.

    Please note that the M25 remains open despite the exit slip being closed.

    During the closure, to reach the M25 junction 28 interchange from the M25 clockwise:

    • continue on the M25 clockwise
    • exit at junction 29
    • return by the M25 anticlockwise to junction 28

    Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

  • 11 July 2024

    Removing existing overhead gantries

    We were unable to safely remove the existing overhead gantries on the M25 as originally planned during our closure of the M25 at junction 28 in June.

    Fortunately we still used the time to complete a lot of other work while the road was closed.

    We will now remove the gantry during a full overnight closure (10pm to 7am) of the M25 clockwise between junctions 27 and 28 in late July.

    Please remember that closure details can change at short notice. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our daily closures page. 

    Clockwise diversion

    A diversion will be in place via M11, A406, and A12, where you can re-join the M25 at junction 28.

    Anti clockwise diversion

    A diversion will be in place via the A12, A406 and M11, where you can re-join the M25 at junction 27.

     

  • 28 June 2024

    A12 lane closures

    Works on site are progressing well, and we're ready to divert a sewer on the A12 between Maylands Golf Club and Maylands Way.

    For safety, there will be lane closures on the A12 and no direct access from the A12 to Maylands Way from July to September.

    Closures can change at short notice.  Make sure you check the latest information on our daily closures page. 

    Closure locations

    • A12 eastbound from Woodstock Avenue to our site compound
    • A12 westbound from the A12 entry slip to Maylands Way

    Maylands way

    There will be no direct access into Maylands Way from the A12. A signed diversion will be in place and pedestrian access will be maintained. 

  • 23 January 2024

    What’s coming up on the scheme this year

    As we start a key year of construction on the project, we thought we’d take a look at what work we’ll be carrying out over the next couple of months.

    The winter weather faced so far this year has not dampened progress being made across the scheme.

    We’re currently building the RECo walls, concrete earth retaining walls that were manufactured to allow a more space efficient way to build, which will form the new A12 eastbound exit slip and take traffic over the Maylands Bridge to cross the loop road, M25 anticlockwise and A12 eastbound up to the junction.

    Work will start soon on the M25 clockwise between junctions 27 and 28, with the installation of the concrete foundations for the new overhead gantry.

    We will be continuing with our work to shape the landscape for the construction of the new two-lane loop road that will link the M25 to the A12.

    Additionally, we are looking forward to our final bridge beam lift on the scheme for the new Duckwood Bridge in February. Ahead of the lift, we’ll be finishing off work on the concrete abutments – the foundations the beams will sit on.

    We’ll be posting the latest information here as work progresses.

  • 08 November 2023

    Scheme achieves two big milestones

    The first saw six 70-metre beams moved into place within our site between the M25 and A12 for the Grove Bridge – as our first lift, this is a significant milestone for the scheme. These beams form the base of the Grove Bridge road deck, which will carry the new loop road underneath the Maylands Bridge – the new A12 eastbound exit that is currently being constructed.

    The beams were lifted into place in pairs using two specialist mobile cranes, known as modular transporters, due to overhead cables.

    M25 junction 28 Beam lift

    With a crane positioned on the M25-anticlockwise carriageway over two nights, we also moved eight large concrete blocks into place. These pre-made rectangular sections will form the new Weald Brook culvert, which will help divert the brook so we can widen the M25 entry slip road. And the good news – this lift was completed ahead of schedule, and we were able to reopen the M25 for traffic early on Sunday morning.

See more updates

Project information

Overview

The M25 junction 28 plays a huge role in connecting the A12 and the M25, as well as providing access to Brentwood via the A1023. Up to 7,500 vehicles pass through the junction roundabout at peak times.

As it is operating at capacity, vehicles using the junction face congestion and delays, which effects local air quality. Our research shows that traffic is expected to increase in the area by around 30% by 2037, which means that over 9,000 vehicles could be passing through it by this date.

Our improvements include:

  • building a new two-lane loop road, for traffic travelling from the M25 anti-clockwise onto the A12 eastbound (towards Brentwood). This will include the construction of new bridges to take the loop road over or under the other road links, and the Weald Brook; new signage and changes to the landscape
  • changing the position of A12 eastbound exit slip road and M25 anti-clockwise entry slip road to allow for the new loop road
  • widening the M25 anti-clockwise carriageway to provide more space for traffic leaving for the A12 eastbound

To find out more about our scheme watch this short video:

 

Our improvement scheme will:

  • Increase capacity and reduce congestion at the junction and on the approaches and exits
  • Improve safety by redesigning the existing roundabout layout and reducing traffic levels
  • Provide better connections between the M25 and A12
  • Reduce annual collision rates through additional capacity
  • Improve average journey times and reliability for all passing traffic through the junction
  • Minimise the impact of air and noise pollution in the local area by smoothing the traffic flow
  • Reduce traffic queuing back onto the M25
  • Help economic growth in the area by providing improvements to cater for future traffic demands

Visit our M25 Junction 28 feedback tool to have your say. The tool includes an interactive map. You can click on a location to make a specific comment, or give us your general feedback.

ECHO is a one-way feedback tool, so if you’d like a response to your feedback you should email the project team at: m25j28@nationalhighways.co.uk

Map of the area covered by the M25 junction 28 scheme

Documents

The Development Consent Order (DCO) process was established by the Planning Act 2008 and is used for certain large and complex schemes (including highway improvements) that have been designated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) by the Government.

The Secretary of State for Transport granted the Development Consent Order (DCO) for the M25 junction 28 improvements on 16 May 2022. Links to key DCO documentation can be found below:

You can view our full Development Consent Order application on the Planning Inspectorate website.

This includes documents identified under Article 43 and Schedule 9 of our Development Consent Order, which have been certified as true copies by the Secretary of State.

Development Consent Order – Requirements Register

Requirements are conditions that have been included in the DCO, which control how the project must be implemented (constructed and maintained). Implementing the DCO in accordance with these conditions involves completing consultation and approval processes that have been defined in the DCO. These processes are referred to here and in the DCO as “discharging” the requirements.

This Requirements Register is a live document and will be updated as the process to discharge the requirements progresses.

The latest version will always be published below:

View the Requirements Register.

This register will be maintained for three years following completion of the project. The register sets out:

  • each requirement
  • whether the requirement needs approval by the Secretary of State (or other duty holder)
  • whether any approval has been applied for or given

Requirements documents

Traffic information

Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.

Contact us

info@nationalhighways.co.uk

0300 123 5000

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