M25 closure chaos LIVE: Drivers face gridlock as major motorway shuts in both directions
The M25 is shut between junctions nine and 11
PA
Drivers have been warned they face major gridlock today with the first planned daytime closure of the M25 in both directions.
Five miles of motorway are be blocked for motorists as essential work is carried out.
The unprecedented move has sparked fears of a traffic "nightmare" with drivers being diverted along an 11.5-mile route which goes along A-roads and local villages.
The M25 normally carries between 4,000 and 6,000 vehicles in each direction every hour from 10am until 9pm at weekends between junctions nine and 11.
Daryl Jordan, of Woking Borough Council, warned the closure had led to the Byfleet Road, which is close to junction 10, being “chock-a-block” on Friday afternoon.
"Just going down the road to get milk is going to be a problem," he said.
"You can’t even get into your own village. It’s going to be a nightmare."
Follow below for live updates from GB News...
This live blog is now closed
Paramedics urge for help from public
Paramedics have urged drivers to let them through if necessary during this weekends road closures.
The diversion route mapped out by national Highways goes directly passed an ambulance deployment point.
A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service said: "We ask for the public’s support and advise motorists to avoid the area unless their journey is essential.
"We also ask that, as ever, they are aware of any emergency vehicles looking to progress through any heavier traffic."
Even worse travel chaos tomorrow
This weekend has turned into the perfect storm for some people looking to travel.
As well as the chaos on the M25, tomorrow there will also be planned engineering works by South Western Railway.
Taking place at the exact same time means that travelling will be incredibly difficult for some people tomorrow.
PICTURED: The people caught up in Saturday traffic hell
Traffic beginning to build up on motorway as vehicles are diverted
Traffic is beginning to build up on the M25 as vehicles are diverted off the motorway.
National Highways South East (NHSE) said on social media there are two miles of tailbacks on approach to the closure at junction 10.
Meanwhile, traffic is beginning to build along the main diversion route through Byfleet, West Byfleet, Woking and Ottershaw.
Locals being attacked 'like in War of the Worlds'
The closure of the M25 has led to a diversion through local villages.
Reporting from Ottershaw, one of those areas impacted, GB News' Ray Addison said that locals felt as it they were being invaded by cars.
Ottershaw was referenced as one of the places attacked by extraterrestrial robot in H. G. Wells's classic novel War of the Worlds.
M25 diversion currently taking 25 minutes
National Highways estimates that at present the 11.5 mile diversion is taking drivers 25 minutes.
It said that there was minimal congestion on the route, with little evidence so far of a build up in traffic.
In a post on social media, it said: “Less than one mile of congestion on approach to the M25 closure at J10 (Wisley) clockwise and J11 (Chertsey) anti-clockwise."