M25 motorway
circular motorway outlining most of London / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a 117-mile (188 km) orbital motorway around Greater London.
M25 | ||||
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London Orbital Motorway | ||||
Route information | ||||
Part of E15 and E30[1] | ||||
Maintained by Connect Plus (contracted to Highways England) | ||||
Length | 117 mi (188 km) | |||
Existed | 1975–present | |||
History | Opened: 1975 Completed: 1986 | |||
Major junctions | ||||
Orbital around London (along with the A282) | ||||
South end | Dartford (Dartford Crossing southern approach) | |||
Major intersections | J3 → M20 motorway J5 → M26 motorway J7 → M23 motorway J12 → M3 motorway J15 → M4 motorway J16 → M40 motorway J21 → M1 motorway J23 → A1(M) motorway J27 → M11 motorway | |||
North end | Thurrock (Dartford Crossing northern approach) | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United Kingdom | |||
Counties | Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Greater London, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex | |||
Primary destinations | London Dartford Crossing Sevenoaks Gatwick Airport Heathrow Airport Watford Stansted Airport Brentwood | |||
Road network | ||||
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The motorway was first suggested early in the 20th century, and a few sections were built in the early 1970s. The M25 was completed in 1986: is one of the world's longest orbital roads.[2]
It is one of the busiest and most congested parts of the British motorway network. 196,000 vehicles were recorded in a single day near London Heathrow Airport. The M25 is a crucial link between the four main London airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton.
Bearing in mind that no motorways go through the centre of London, the M25 is a main route connecting north with south, and east with the west of England.
The motorway was originally built with only six lanes (three each way), despite research which suggested eight lanes were necessary. Now a fourth lane exists over most of the motorway, and more in special sections (see diagram). Plans were scaled back in 2009 in response to rising costs, but work is still going on.[3]