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A serious overnight collision on the M25 in Surrey has closed a key stretch of the motorway between Junctions 10 and 11, prompting warnings of significant delays for drivers heading to Gatwick and Heathrow airports on Tuesday, 1 September 2026.
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Overnight collision shuts key section of M25
Publicly available information indicates that the crash occurred shortly before midnight on Monday, 31 August, on the anti clockwise carriageway between Junction 11 at Chertsey and Junction 10 at Wisley. Multiple outlets describe the incident as a serious collision involving several vehicles, with the motorway closure extending into the busy Tuesday morning peak.
Coverage from regional news sites and traffic services shows that both carriageways were initially affected, with the anti clockwise side remaining shut for an extended period while investigation and recovery work took place. Some reports link the closure to a fatal collision involving a pedestrian and multiple vehicles, with a parallel appeal for witnesses published by Surrey Police on 1 September.
Highways updates cited in local media state that the closure is focused on the orbital motorway’s south western quadrant, which carries large volumes of long distance traffic as well as airport bound journeys. Drivers in the Surrey area awoke to warnings of significant congestion and advised diversion routes around the affected junctions.
Airport travellers urged to check journeys
In the hours after the crash, several outlets relayed messages from transport and police updates advising anyone travelling to Heathrow or Gatwick to allow extra time and check conditions before setting out. One bulletin highlighted that journeys to both airports were likely to be impacted, particularly for those using the M25 to connect with the M4 for Heathrow or the M23 for Gatwick.
Regional radio coverage and live blogs noted that queues were building on approach to the closure, with delays reported on the M25 itself and on surrounding A roads used as diversion corridors. For Gatwick passengers, published reports warned that congestion around the south western section of the M25 could disrupt access to the M23, a primary route to the airport from much of London and the Midlands.
Travel commentators quoted in online coverage suggested that passengers with early morning flights were among the most exposed to disruption, as the closure coincided with the first wave of departures. Travellers were encouraged to monitor live traffic tools and airline guidance, and to consider alternative routes that avoid the affected stretch of the orbital where possible.
Severe congestion and diversion routes around Surrey
Traffic reports on 1 September describe long queues forming on the M25 anti clockwise from Junction 12 back towards Staines, with knock on effects on feeder routes such as the A3, A320 and A245. Some sources reported stationary traffic in places as vehicles filtered towards signed diversions around the closure.
According to road network updates compiled by several news outlets, diversion routes have been directing anti clockwise traffic off the M25 at Junction 11 and along local A roads before rejoining at Junction 10. This has placed additional pressure on already busy commuter corridors through communities including Ottershaw and Byfleet.
Motorists not bound for the immediate area have been advised in public reports to consider alternative strategic options, including remaining on the M4 and M3 for longer distances or using cross country links south of the M25 where appropriate. However, the scale of the closure on such a central orbital route means that disruption has extended well beyond Surrey, affecting regional freight movements and long distance journeys across the south east.
Ongoing investigation and motorway reopening timeline
News summaries referencing Surrey Police updates state that specialist officers have been carrying out investigations at the scene through the early hours, with detailed collision examination work cited as a key reason for the extended closure. At the same time, recovery teams have been working to remove damaged vehicles and clear debris from the carriageway.
Initial advisories suggested that the affected section of the M25 would remain closed for several hours into the morning, with some outlets signalling that reopening was unlikely before the end of the peak travel period. Later updates indicate that lanes may begin to reopen once collision investigation work is complete, although drivers were warned that residual delays could persist for much of the day.
Surrey Police’s news pages for 1 September include an appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage relating to a fatal collision on the same section of the M25, involving a pedestrian and multiple vehicles. While formal causation analysis has not been published at the time of writing, publicly available information suggests that this incident underpins the ongoing disruption and extended closure between Junctions 10 and 11.
What M25 disruption means for future airport trips
The collision and subsequent closure have underlined how dependent London’s major airports are on the reliability of the M25. Government and local authority documents describing the London orbital and M23 to Gatwick corridor highlight its role as a primary access route, with high volumes of airport related traffic using the south and west sections of the motorway every day.
Transport analysts commenting in previous route based studies have pointed out that incidents on this part of the network can rapidly cascade into wider delays, particularly when they coincide with peak commuting and airport departure windows. The events of 1 September illustrate how a single overnight crash can lead to widespread disruption for air passengers, freight operators and local road users across Surrey.
For future trips, travel experts routinely advise passengers headed to Heathrow or Gatwick to build in additional contingency time whenever their journeys rely on the M25, especially where planned roadworks or poor weather increase the likelihood of incidents. The latest closure has prompted renewed reminders in public information channels about checking live traffic information, planning alternative routes and maintaining flexibility where possible when travelling to or from the UK’s busiest airports.
Surrey Police: M25 closure between J10 and J11
Radio Jackie: M25 closed between J10 Wisley and J11 Chertsey
Evening Standard: M25 crash sparks Heathrow and Gatwick warning
Surrey Police: Witness appeal following fatal collision on the M25