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| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| M25 section in Surrey collapses following roadworks | M25 section in Surrey collapses following roadworks |
| (less than a minute earlier) | |
| Three lanes of the M25 have been closed after a section collapsed and left a large pothole, following roadworks. | Three lanes of the M25 have been closed after a section collapsed and left a large pothole, following roadworks. |
| Surrey Police said many vehicles had been left with damaged tyres after the road surface near Leatherhead fell in during heavy rain at about 05:30 GMT. | Surrey Police said many vehicles had been left with damaged tyres after the road surface near Leatherhead fell in during heavy rain at about 05:30 GMT. |
| Highways workers cleared concrete debris from the anti-clockwise carriageway near junction nine. | Highways workers cleared concrete debris from the anti-clockwise carriageway near junction nine. |
| Tailbacks of up to 16 miles have been reported with disruption expected through this evening's rush hour. | Tailbacks of up to 16 miles have been reported with disruption expected through this evening's rush hour. |
| Earlier, delays were up to 90-minutes with queues back to junction 11 at Chertsey. | Earlier, delays were up to 90-minutes with queues back to junction 11 at Chertsey. |
| A Highways Agency spokesman said: "Concrete repairs being carried out overnight failed to set. | A Highways Agency spokesman said: "Concrete repairs being carried out overnight failed to set. |
| "Maintenance crews had been working overnight to replace three sections of concrete road surface between junctions nine and 10. | "Maintenance crews had been working overnight to replace three sections of concrete road surface between junctions nine and 10. |
| "One of these concrete sections disintegrated and another section was showing signs of distress. | "One of these concrete sections disintegrated and another section was showing signs of distress. |
| "We have people on the site repairing these sections and we will reopen the closed lanes as soon as it is safe to do so." | "We have people on the site repairing these sections and we will reopen the closed lanes as soon as it is safe to do so." |
| The slip road at Junction 9 was closed earlier but has since reopened. | The slip road at Junction 9 was closed earlier but has since reopened. |
| Delays for hours | Delays for hours |
| Surrey Police said delays were expected to last for many hours. | Surrey Police said delays were expected to last for many hours. |
| Among the thousands caught up in travel chaos are those heading to Gatwick. The West Sussex airport is urging travellers to allow extra time for their journeys. | Among the thousands caught up in travel chaos are those heading to Gatwick. The West Sussex airport is urging travellers to allow extra time for their journeys. |
| National Express tweeted: "All services between Heathrow & Gatwick Airports suspended until further notice. We are moving customers via London to Gatwick & Brighton." | National Express tweeted: "All services between Heathrow & Gatwick Airports suspended until further notice. We are moving customers via London to Gatwick & Brighton." |
| The company has posted details of services that have been cancelled because of the M25 disruption on its website. | The company has posted details of services that have been cancelled because of the M25 disruption on its website. |
| One resident who lives beside the M25 said her family heard "very large, odd thuds, a bit like thunder at about 05:30. | One resident who lives beside the M25 said her family heard "very large, odd thuds, a bit like thunder at about 05:30. |
| "At one point our house was shaking and a piece of plaster fell out of the ceiling," she said. | "At one point our house was shaking and a piece of plaster fell out of the ceiling," she said. |
| "I don't know whether the thuds were the lorries hitting the hole or the road collapsing. | "I don't know whether the thuds were the lorries hitting the hole or the road collapsing. |
| "It doesn't look enormous, but it is causing chaos." | "It doesn't look enormous, but it is causing chaos." |
| A caller to BBC Surrey said she joined the M25 at Weybridge at 07:30 and by 10:45 had got as far as Cobham services. | A caller to BBC Surrey said she joined the M25 at Weybridge at 07:30 and by 10:45 had got as far as Cobham services. |
| "We're going nowhere fast," she said. | "We're going nowhere fast," she said. |
| "Nobody is giving any information about what is going on, which is no help." | "Nobody is giving any information about what is going on, which is no help." |
| At the scene | At the scene |
| Adrian Harms, BBC Surrey reporter | Adrian Harms, BBC Surrey reporter |
| There are now a lot more people on the motorway looking into the hole which is causing all these problems. | There are now a lot more people on the motorway looking into the hole which is causing all these problems. |
| The bad news if you are a motorist is that the queues are still horrendous. There is just one lane open past the scene and that is lane four. | The bad news if you are a motorist is that the queues are still horrendous. There is just one lane open past the scene and that is lane four. |
| A mixture of vans and lorries and cars are parked up in lanes one to three and on the hard shoulder - presumably looking to repair the hole. | A mixture of vans and lorries and cars are parked up in lanes one to three and on the hard shoulder - presumably looking to repair the hole. |
| But from where I am standing that does not look as if it is going to be anytime soon. | But from where I am standing that does not look as if it is going to be anytime soon. |
| Alex Goodwill tweeted: "Punctures galore thanks to pothole on M25 at Leatherhead". | Alex Goodwill tweeted: "Punctures galore thanks to pothole on M25 at Leatherhead". |
| AA president Edmund King said: "The M25 really is the road to hell today. | AA president Edmund King said: "The M25 really is the road to hell today. |
| "There must be a thorough investigation into this incident. | "There must be a thorough investigation into this incident. |
| "It is disappointing that not only did the road fail, but it placed many drivers in danger and also reportedly damaged a number of vehicles. | "It is disappointing that not only did the road fail, but it placed many drivers in danger and also reportedly damaged a number of vehicles. |
| "If this happened on the railways, passengers could claim compensation. | "If this happened on the railways, passengers could claim compensation. |
| "As it has happened on the roads, drivers just have to put up with it." | "As it has happened on the roads, drivers just have to put up with it." |