Severe M25, M23 Delays
M25 J27 emergency repairs cause 12-mile queues, 90-minute delays; M23 also affected near Gatwick
Key Points
"Only one lane open past the junction, and no entry from the M11 southbound."
A further defect was found that requires assessment in addition to the initial emergency road surface repairs.
Traffic is queueing for 12 miles due to the emergency repairs at M25 J27, according to Inrix.
Congestion extends to J29 A127 (Romford) as delays spill onto adjacent exits and routes on the M25 network.
In Sussex, a separate incident on the M23 northbound near Gatwick closed the nearside lane after a three-vehicle collision, with queues building on the approach and spillover delays to surrounding routes such as the A217, A22, A3 and A259.
Two of three lanes on the M25 anticlockwise are shut at Junction 27 in Essex due to emergency road surface repairs, causing 90-minute delays and 12 miles of queues, according to The Mirror and The Business Times. National Highways says there is no clear reopening time yet, and drivers are being told to delay their journeys or find another route.
The closure has also taken out the link road from the M11 southbound to the M25 anticlockwise at J27. That means only one lane is moving past the junction, with no entry from the M11 at all. Congestion is stretching back to Junction 29 at the A127 near Romford, according to Essex Live.
A Further Defect Stops Lanes From Reopening
The repairs began as scheduled overnight work. But at around 5:15 AM, National Highways engineers found an additional defect beneath the road surface. That discovery forced a full emergency closure of Lanes 1 and 2, according to Essex Live. Specialists are still assessing the damage and have not given a time when the lanes could safely reopen.
National Highways said in an official alert: "There is no estimated time for when the lanes could reopen. Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey." The road carries around 200,000 vehicles a day on this stretch, making even a partial closure a major problem for commuters and freight drivers alike.
Queues Back Up 12 Miles Toward Romford
Traffic data provider Inrix tracked the tailback at 12 miles, running from J27 all the way back to J29. The Mirror reported delays of 90 minutes at peak congestion during the morning rush. Drivers on surrounding roads have also been hit, with traffic bleeding onto the A127, A12, and routes through Brentwood and Romford.
J27 is where the M11 meets the M25. Shutting that link cuts off a key route between London, Stansted Airport, and Cambridge. Haulage firms moving goods from the Port of Tilbury and London Gateway are among those facing significant delays, as this junction is the main conduit for freight heading north and west from the east coast ports.
M23 Crash Near Gatwick Adds a Second Bottleneck
A separate incident in Sussex is making Tuesday's road picture even worse. A three-vehicle collision on the M23 northbound between Gatwick Airport and the M25 closed the nearside lane at 6:45 AM, according to Sussex Express. Queues built quickly on the approach, with delays spreading onto the A217, A22, A3, and A259.
The M23 incident and the M25 J27 closure together are squeezing the South East's road network from two directions at once. Drivers heading into or around London face disruption whether they approach from the north via the M11 corridor or from the south via Gatwick.
What Drivers Should Do Right Now
National Highways is urging anyone planning to use the M25 anticlockwise near J27 to delay their journey if possible. Those who must travel are advised to allow significant extra time and consider rerouting via the A10 or A12 to bypass the worst of the congestion. The situation is being updated as a live blog by The Business Times and other outlets.
Specialist engineers need time to assess the full extent of the defect and confirm the road is safe before reopening. Until that assessment is done and any repairs are complete, the M25 anticlockwise at J27 should be treated as effectively closed for time-sensitive travel.
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