M25 junction 28 improvements

Latest updates

• 27 March 2024

  Scheme helps charities to have egg-traordinary Easter

  Our egg-cellent site team has done the cracking job of collecting more than 100 easter eggs for local charities.

  🐰 Taking on the role of Easter Bunny, the eggs have been delivered to SNAP, a charity based in Brentwood that supports families with children and young people who have additional needs or disability, and the Salvation Army, Harold Hill, providing practical help and support for people in need in the community. 

  

  Project team supports Great British Spring Clean

  Littering is a dreadful social problem. It’s not just unsightly, it can have a deadly impact on wildlife and the environment, and it’s dangerous for those who have to go out and collect it from beside our roads. Each year, as a country, we spend hundreds of millions of pounds clearing up litter.

  A brave team took time out of the scheme to take part in the Great British Spring Clean, by carrying out a litter pick along the A12.

  Collecting a whopping 30 black bags of rubbish, some of the more interesting finds included:

  • a pair of ski goggles
  • a child’s electric car, which looks to have been involved in an RTC, driver had already fled the scene
  • four industrial batteries
  • a frying pan and cutlery
  • multiple vapes and tobacco packets.

  👷🏻‍♀️ Project support officer Megan commented “We’re always keen to get stuck in where we can and do our part for the local community, and the Great British Spring Clean is a great opportunity for us to do that.”

  

• 12 March 2024

  Scheme celebrates 400,000 safe working hours

  🎉 We recently celebrated 400,000 hours worked on the scheme without a Lost Time Incident (LTI)*.

  👷🏻‍♂️ We caught up with project manager Zach to find out more: “This is a fantastic achievement, and testament to the continual focus we and our construction partners put on creating a safe environment for everyone who works on or visits our site.”

  “The majority of our work is within a busy and complex site; and we’re continuously reviewing and improving safety to reduce any risks and ensure everyone goes home safe each and every day.”

  *LTI is a standard measure within the construction industry, and relates to accidents that requires a person to take time off work.

  

  Helping the local community

  💐 Spring has sprung on our scheme, as the team puts petal to the metal to plant more than 1,000 trees and shrubs for a local charity.

  Located close to our improvement scheme in Essex, the Gardens of Peace Muslim Cemetery recently welcomed a team of willing volunteers to plant trees, shrubs, hedges, and plants around their new state-of-the-art building and grounds.

  The green-fingered crew, armed with spades and wheelbarrows, made the short trip over the A12 from our construction site between Romford and Brentwood to plant over 1,000 different species of plants, and deliver several tonnes of topsoil.

  🙏🏻 Praising the team’s efforts Farouk Ismail, Gardens of Peace Trustee said: “It was a pleasure meeting the eager team of volunteers who undertook some extensive tree and shrub planting at our Maylands Fields site on Colchester Road.

  “We would like to express our thanks to the team for their great community spirit and goodwill by offering to supply topsoil and the workforce to carry out the planting in record time, notwithstanding the aches and pains that go with such work. 

  “We are delighted with the outcome and as a charity, we welcome and much appreciate your generous support for our community project.”

  Ramadan Kareem to any readers observing Ramadan.

  

  Scheme celebrates International Women’s Day

  On Friday 8 March, the scheme celebrated International Women’s Day by bringing together women from National Highways, our construction partners, and representatives from the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) to talk about the unique perspectives and contributions of women in the industry.

  Following the day, Assistant Project Manager Lauren said: “I’m proud to be part of a team, and wider organisation, that not only has inspirational women at all levels, but supports and encourages equality and diversity.  It was a great to come together as women working in construction and engineering to discuss our experiences and the wealth of knowledge these women have obtained through the incredible opportunities our industries have provided.”

  

• 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.

  Hold on to your antlers – scheme helps local animal charity.

  The team working to improve junction 28 were approached by Harold Hill Deer Aid – a non-funded, non-profit making charity made up of local residents – to see if we could help with new equipment to support the charity’s work. And the team thought it was a stag-geringly good i-deer!

  The group respond to both deer and other wildlife incidents in this region and work very closely with the emergency services, to not only rescue animals, but make sure they get any further treatment they need.

  Following a generous donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) – including hi-visibility clothing, boots, safety glasses, handheld and head torches, gloves, and heavy-duty scissors – the team will be protected from head to toe (or should that be head to doe?) while carrying out their amazing rescues.

  Harold Hill Deer Aid Volunteer, Jan Sergent, said: “I would like to thank GRAHAM and National Highways for listening to our concerns and recommendations. The staff we have spoken with have been more than accommodating and have taken our group seriously which we greatly appreciate."

  “Your very kind donation of PPE will enable us to continue carrying out our work safely, confidently, and efficiently, therefore, benefiting not only us but the animals we are trying to help and protect. We are very humbled that you chose to donate to our cause. Your kindness means everything to us.”

  

  We think the work this charity does is simply fantastic and were delighted to be able to help such a worthy cause.🦌

  We’ve also been doing plenty on our site to protect wildlife, including keeping deer safe by installing hundreds of metres of new protective deer fencing. The fencing not only stops deer and other wildlife from entering our site, but also prevents them from wandering onto the busy M25 and A12, making journeys safer for both wildlife and motorists.

• 20 December 2023

  ‘Beam me up’

  We’re beaming with pride as last week saw us successfully complete our last beam lift of the year, and our third on the scheme.

  Sixteen pre-cast concrete beams were lifted into place for the new Alderwood Bridge. Measuring 23.5 metres and weighing 35 tonnes each (that’s around the same as 117 reindeers!), the beams were lifted onto the newly built concrete supports.

  Located close to the M25, Alderwood Bridge is one of four new bridges, and once complete it will carry the new loop road between the M25 and A12 over the new M25 entry slip.

  This lift follows closely on from nine pairs of steel beams, weighing up to 56 tonnes (that’s more than 187 reindeers!) and measuring 48 metres in length being lifted into place to form the base of the new Maylands Bridge.

  Maylands Bridge will form part of the new A12 eastbound exit slip and will take traffic over the new Grove Bridge and loop road that are currently under construction.

  And as good things come in threes, we also recently installed six 70-metre beams that form the base of the new Grove Bridge. Due to overhead power cables, these beams were lifted into place using two specialist mobile cranes, known as modular transporters.

  With all the action happening within our site between the A12 and the M25, here’s our trio of bridge lifts condensed into just over three minutes.

  These lifts round off 2023 as we work to improve this busy junction. We’ve made fantastic progress across the entire scheme, and you may have noticed lots of changes above ground, with piling machines, beam lifts, culverts installed, and the landscape being reshaped within our site between the M25 and A12.

  There has also been a lot happening below ground, with our tunnel boring machine Tina helping divert a gas main, other service pipes and cables being moved, and protection installed over a fuel line.

  From the entire team we would like to wish you a fantastic festive break and a happy 2024.

  Getting in the festive mood...

  With the holidays fast approaching, we’ve been getting into the festive spirit on the scheme.

  Ready, set, glow…

  We were ‘de-lighted’ to support the Harold Hill Christmas light switch on event held recently. Organised by a group of volunteers, the event includes a Christmas market, fairground rides, entertainment and, of course, a chance to meet the big man himself – Santa in his Grotto. And we made sure each child visiting the grotto received a gift.

  Harold Hill Christmas Light Switch on, Committee Member, Jan Sergent said: “We are now very proud to say that with kind donations such as yours, once again we are able to bring a little Christmas Sparkle to our unique, fantastic community with Santa pressies for the children, lots of Christmassy stalls and a fun filled day of entertainment.”

  

  Food and toys donated to The Trussell Trust

  We understand that sometimes people need a helping hand and will turn to food banks, especially at this time of year. We’ve once again been able to donate a range of food products and toiletries to The Trussell Trust foodbank in Brentwood.

  The team also held a collection in the office for a range of children’s toys to donate towards the Christmas toy appeal. The toys will be handed out to children who might not receive a gift this Christmas. 

  

  Volunteers help at Salvation Army Centre

  Donning Christmas jumpers, volunteers from the scheme have been helping out at the Salvation Army Centre near our office in Guildford. They were tasked with putting together Christmas food bags for families, decorating the centre ahead of their Christmas events, and organising the food bank ready for emergency food parcels.

  

• 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.

  

  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.

  Scheme rated as excellent

  Our project has once again achieved top marks and rated ‘excellent’ by the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS).

  CCS is an independent organisation that aims to raise standards within the construction industry by promoting and supporting construction schemes in their efforts to care for the environment, local community, and their workforce.

  Following our most recent visit by the independent assessor, the project gained top marks in all three categories – Respect the Community, Care for the Environment and Value the Workforce – and once again scored a maximum score of 45/45.

  The assessor praised the project for: “…continuing to conform to the CCS Code of Considerate Practice to an excellent standard. Community communication and support arrangements remain very comprehensive and appearance standards are very high. It is great to see the progress in the site's social value plans and the wide range of community support and engagement activities that have been undertaken to date.”

  Project manager Zach said: “I’m delighted that we’ve once again achieved top scores across the board from the Considerate Constructor Scheme. And having just achieved our first bridge lift – a significant milestone for the project – it’s great recognition of all the hard work that everyone is putting in to deliver this project safely, with consideration to those around us, road users and the environment.”

  

• 25 October 2023

  Weald Brook culvert installation

  Work on site is progressing well and we’re now getting ready to lift the new Weald Brook culvert into place. Constructed using hollow pre-made concrete sections, the culvert will help divert the brook so we can widen the M25 entry slip road.

  Due to the brook being so close to the carriageway, we’ll need to close the M25 anti-clockwise between junctions 29 and 27 for a couple of nights while we use a crane to move the culvert sections into place.

  We understand that closures are frustrating, so we appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to improve this busy junction.

  Closure information

  The M25 anti-clockwise will be closed between junctions 29 and 27 on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 November from 10pm to 7am each night.

  A diversion will be in place via the A127, A406 and M11.

  Road users travelling into ULEZ during the closures, won’t be charged if they stay on the official diversion route.  It’s important that road users follow the diversion route signage and not to stray off the official route because of suggested alternatives from a Sat Nav. For more information about ULEZ and charges, visit TfL’s webpage.

  In the community

  It was ‘on your marks…set…bake’ on site recently, all in the name of charity.

  With rewards handed out for star baker, and the best faker, the team enjoyed a well-earned coffee and cake break as part of the nationwide Macmillan Coffee Morning.

  And following the fundraising efforts of the health and safety advisor, who has been undertaking a series of hikes and other events in memory of a close friend, the team have raised a whooping £1,500 for Macmillan – well done everyone.

  

  Stamp it out!

  You may have noticed some new signs around where we’re working. Part of the industry-wide Stamp it Out campaign, the signs make clear that we do not tolerate abuse towards anyone working on our site.

  Sadly, abuse is an ongoing issue within the construction industry; protecting our workforce is our number one priority.

  

• 05 October 2023

  Progress update – October 2023

  It’s been a busy year since we started our improvements at junction 28, from archaeological finds and tunnel boring machines, to giving fish a new home and secret animal highways.

  And if you’ve passed through the junction, you may have seen quite a few changes to the landscape alongside the road. So far, we’ve moved approximately 100,000m3 of earth – enough to fill 40 Olympic sized swimming pools – as we prepare for the new two-lane loop road that will link the M25 to the A12.

  We also recently closed a lane on the anti-clockwise entry slip so we can start on the new slip road.

  You may have spotted some tall piling machines on site. These are specialist drilling rigs laying the foundation for four new bridges that will carry the loop road – Alderwood, Duckwood, Grove and Maylands.

  Let’s look at how each one is progressing, along with some of the other key structures on site:

  Alderwood Bridge

  We’ve completed the foundations for the Alderwood Bridge, located adjacent to the M25, and work has started on the concrete supports, known as abutments, that will carry the raised road deck.

  Later this year, 16 precast concrete beams will be lifted into place. These beams will sit on the abutments, spanning the gap and forming the base of the road deck. Each beam measures 23.5 metres in length – around the same as two double decker buses – and weighs approximately 35 tonnes – that’s five fully grown African elephants!

  

  Grove Farm culvert

  Standing proudly within our site, the Grove Farm culvert is starting to take shape. Made up of precast sections, lifted into place by crane, the culvert will soon become integrated into the landscape as earth is landscaped around it. Once complete, local landowners will be able to use this to pass under the new loop road.

  

  Maylands Bridge

  You may have noticed some columns starting to rise out of the ground near the A12. These impressive structures will support the Maylands Bridge, which will carry the new A12 eastbound exit slip.

  

  Grove Brook culvert

  Our work to extend the Grove Brook culvert is progressing well with over half of the precast concrete units now in place. The culvert will take the Grove Brook under the new A12 eastbound exit slip. It also has a secret ‘highway’ for animals – the mammal shelf hidden within the culvert allows wildlife, such as water voles and otters, to safely travel under the road without getting their feet wet. You can just see it on the right of the concrete boxes.

  

  Duckwood and Grove bridges

  We’ve finished the foundations for the Duckwood and Grove bridges, and are now constructing the next layer – the bases for the concrete abutments.

  Six steel beams recently arrived on site, and these will be lifted into place to form the base of the Grove Bridge road deck later this year. 

  Weald Brook culvert

  We’ll soon be installing the new culvert for the Weald Brook. Located close to the M25, this culvert will help divert the brook so we can widen the M25 entry slip.

  To help us get the culvert into place, you may notice two large cranes arriving on site. Keep an eye on this webpage for more information.

• 02 October 2023

  Start of construction on the new M25 anti-clockwise entry slip

  Excellent progress has been made across the scheme since we started work last October.

  We’ve now moved to the next phase of the project, the construction of the new M25 anti-clockwise entry slip. To do this safely and minimise disruption for drivers, we’ve closed a lane on the existing anti-clockwise entry slip at junction 28 until early 2025.

  The lane closure will allow us to build the new entry slip, as well as the bridge that will carry the A12 loop road over the new slip road.

  By closing a lane for a solid block of time, we can complete most of our work on this essential part of the scheme while keeping a lane open to traffic.

  Want to know more? Come and meet the team

  We’ll be at the Holiday Inn Brentwood on Tuesday 3 October from 10am to midday, and again 5pm to 7pm – please pop in and see us if you have any queries about the scheme. The Holiday Inn can be found on Brook Street, Brentwood, CM14 5NF. There is free parking on site.

  If you can't make it and you'd like to speak to someone, you can call our contact centre on 0300 123 5000 (open 24/7), who will pass your query on to the team or email us at M25j28@nationalhighways.co.uk.

• 10 July 2023

  Earthworks update – July 2023

  You might have seen some changes to the landscape if you have been travelling through the M25 junction 28 junction or along the A12 recently, as we continue to make excellent progress with our earthworks to prepare the area for the new two-lane loop road.

  We have up to 16 bulldozers, excavators, tippers, and other machines working to move and place approximately 130,000m3 of earth (if that much earth were water it would fill 52 Olympic sized swimming pools!). We must move this earth while the weather’s dry and it’s a vital part of the whole project.

  We are pleased with progress on the new Alderwood Bridge, near the M25, where we’re using a specialist drilling rig to install foundations, posts and walls. The drill digs down into the soil to create a hole that is then filled with concrete, known as a

  Work is now underway to dig out the earth around the piles and clean them ahead of the next phase of works. When completed Alderwood bridge will carry the new A12 loop road and allow the new M25 entry slip to pass beneath the loop road.

   

   

• 05 May 2023

  A12 lane closures

  Before we can start on the new A12 exit slip, we’re working with utilities companies to move pipes and cables out of the area. To make sure this work can be carried out safely, there will be a lane closure on the A12 eastbound between Petersfield Avenue and the A12 slip road for M25 junction 28, with one lane remaining open, between:

  • 5am Tuesday 2 May and 8pm Friday 5 May
  • 5am Tuesday 9 May and 8pm Friday 12 May
  • 5am Monday 15 May and 8pm Friday 19 May
  • 5am Monday 22 May and 8pm Friday 26 May
  • 5am Tuesday 30 May and 8pm Friday 2 June

  Scheme gains top marks

  Our project to reduce congestion and increase capacity at the busy M25 junction 28, has been awarded top marks and rated excellent by the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) – an independent organisation that aims to raise standards within the construction industry.

  CCS promotes and supports construction schemes in their efforts to care for the environment, local community and their workforce.

  Gaining 45/45 on our first assessment, the auditor commented: “The project is conforming to the CCS Code of Considerate Practice to an excellent standard. Community communication and support arrangements are extremely comprehensive and appearance standards are very high. It is excellent to see the site's social value plans and achievements to date”.

  Following the review, project manager Zach said: “We’re thrilled to have received excellent across the board on our first assessment. It’s not just about getting top scores, these visits also allow us to gain valuable feedback from someone seeing the site and our activities with fresh eyes.”

  Come and meet the project team

  The project team have a drop-in clinic, which is a great way for local residents, businesses and other stakeholders to meet members of the team.

  If you have got a question about the scheme or are interested to see what it will look like when our works are finished, then please visit or next drop-in and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

  The team will be on hand at the Holiday Inn Brentwood on Tuesday 16 May between 4pm and 7pm.

  The Holiday Inn can be found on Brook Street, Brentwood, CM14 5NF. There is free parking on site, so please come along and say hello.

  If you can’t make it and have a question, you can email us on m25j28@nationalhighways.co.uk or call 0300 123 5000, and one of the team will be happy to help.

• 24 April 2023

  Project update – April 2023

  You may have been wondering how we’re getting on with our improvements behind the hoardings…here’s a little update for you…

  Even with the challenging weather, we’ve made great progress since the start of the year.

  Laying foundations

  There have been several tall machines dominating the skyline of the site which have been doing an important job laying foundations – these are piling machines.

  Piling is a common construction technique that uses a specialist drilling rig to install foundations, posts and walls. The drill digs down into the soil to create a hole that is then filled with concrete, known as a pile. A row of these ‘piles’ create your foundations or walls.

  So far, we’ve installed 133 continuous flight auger (CFA) piles that will form the foundations for the new Alderwood Bridge, which is located adjacent to the M25. CFA piling involves drilling and pouring concrete in one continuous action, which is enabling faster installation time than installing traditional bored piles. CFA piling is also one of the quietest methods of piling and is virtually vibration free.

  We’ve also installed 1,480 piles to form the foundations for the new Maylands and Duckwood Bridges, ahead of construction work starting.

  We’ve not just been busy on site, we’ve also precast 16 concrete beams offsite that will be used to construct the Alderwood Bridge. Each beam measures 23.5 metres in length, the same as two double decker buses bumper to bumper, and weights approximately 35 tonnes, which is almost 16 fully grown hippos!

  

  Moving and protecting the existing service pipes and cables

  Before we start any construction, we’ve been working to move or protect the service pipes or cable that run through the site. This will protect them from getting damaged and ensure they can be easily accessed for maintenance and repairs in the future.

  So far, we’ve moved a gas main and the National Roads Telecommunications Services (NRTS) cables on the M25, and installed a special protective cover around a fuel line. The new route of the gas main is being further protected by a thick layer of reinforced concrete – this is concrete that has a steel frame cast within it to provide additional strength and support.

  New ponds and drainage

  We’ve dug out one of the three ponds to be created on the scheme. When completed these ponds will hold excess surface water in the future to prevent localised flooding and support local wildlife.

  Additionally, we’ve installed more than 75 metres new drainage pipes, dug new ditches and filter drains to prevent groundwater entering the work area.

  

  What’s coming up

  Following the completion of drainage works, the focus will shift towards shaping the site.

  This will involve the movement of approximately 130,000m3 of earth around the site, that’s enough to fill 52 Olympic-sized swimming pools, and you’ll soon see what the final shape of the area will be. As part of this, we’ll also be diverting Weald Brook, and starting on the foundations for Maylands Bridge and Grove Bridge.

  This type of earthworks requires careful planning and coordination to ensure the work is carried out safely and efficiently.

  You may also notice new deer fencing being installed around the edge of the site, to ensure the safety of both drivers and wildlife in the area.

   

• 24 November 2022

  Our tunnel boring machine is ‘Simply the Best’

  Pupils from the nearby Drapers Maylands Primary School have helped us to launch our Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) – Tina Turney.

  

  The machine, which will be used to dig the new route of a gas main that’s being diverted as part of our improvements, recently arrived on site, and the pupils were there to meet her.

  TBMs are traditionally given female names for luck, and a few weeks ago, the pupils had been challenged with the important job of coming up with a name for our machine.

  The winner was Maanya, who came up with the name Turney, which was soon nicknamed Tina Turney.

  The 44 year 5 and 6 pupils have been learning about tunnelling and our work at junction 28 from the team, as well as why engineering is such a vital job and the importance of site safety.

  We look forward to keeping the students up to date with Tina’s progress, we might even inspire some future engineers or tunnellers.

  Planned streetlighting upgrades

  Our maintenance teams will soon be introducing new LED streetlights at the junction. This work will take place overnight between late October 2022 and early March 2023, allowing us to share workspace and reduce the overall number of closures we’ll both need.

  Much of the work on the roundabout will be carried out safely within lane closures, but we'll need some total closures of the M25 slip roads. More information about this work is available on our south east maintenance page. 

• 16 May 2022

  Development Consent Order given the green light

  Today we welcomed the Secretary of State for Transport decision to grant us a Development Consent Order, which allows us to proceed with our proposals to improve the M25 junction 28.

  At peak times up to 7,500 vehicles per hour pass through this heavily used junction, resulting in queues and delays. Improving the flow of traffic around this junction and allowing more capacity on the exit slip roads, will provide a safer and more integrated network for everyone. There will also be less likelihood of traffic queuing back onto the M25 due to the reconfiguration of the junction.

  Thank you to everyone for their engagement and contribution in the development of the scheme to date.

  To make sure you know what’s coming up, sign up to our project newsletter using the sign-up link below, we’ll also be providing regular updates on this page.

  You can view more information about the decision on the Planning Inspectorate website.

  Keeping you informed

  We plan to start preparation work this summer, with main construction starting this autumn. To make sure you know what’s coming, and to keep everyone up to date, we will:

  • issue regular project newsletters – you can join the mailing list by signing up on this page
  • run online briefings in summer 2022 to provide the opportunity to ask the team any questions
  • organise face-to-face events using our engagement van at local venues. These will provide information about the scheme and allow us to answer any questions you and others may have. We will provide you with more details of these on this page soon.

• 01 July 2020

  Application for Development Consent Order

  Our proposals for the M25 junction 28 improvement scheme are the subject of an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO). We are applying for a DCO to give us the planning permission and legal powers we need to build the scheme. We have submitted our application to the Planning Inspectorate, the government agency responsible for operating the planning process for DCOs. Our DCO application was accepted by the Planning Inspectorate on 24 June 2020 for formal examination.

  You can view our application on the Planning Inspectorate website.