National Highways has opened a new access route to the RHS gardens at Wisley in Surrey after installing two new bridges as part of its M25 Junction 10 upgrade.
The Government-owned company said the completion of the Wisley Lane bridge on Monday (November 11) ‘marks one of the scheme’s first large-scale accomplishments’.
In addition, the Clearmount bridge – a bridleway allowing pedestrians, cyclists and horseriders to cross the motorway – was jacked into place on the weekend of 2-3 November, having been constructed off-site during the summer.
Construction began back in August and the 450-tonne steel and concrete structure was positioned alongside the M25 for two months while the abutments on either side of the motorway were constructed.
The 61m-long bridge was jacked up to its maximum height and placed on self-propelled modular transporters, which then slid the bridge onto the carriageway and moved it sideways 300 metres along the M25 and into place to be opened at a later date.
This was the first time this method of transporting a previously constructed bridge into place on the M25 has been used – meaning a full weekend closure of the motorway was not required.
Senior project manager Daniel Kittredge described the opening of the bridges as ‘significant milestones’ for project.
He said: ‘The original Clearmount bridge was demolished during the first full weekend closure of the M25 in March as it was not long enough to span the new slip roads.
‘This new bridge will be wider and provide an improved way for people to navigate over the M25 by foot, bike or horseback.’
National Highways closed the slip roads of the M25 and the A3 over two weekends in October to pave the way for the installation of the Clearmount Bridge and made enough progress over those weekends that a third closure, planned for the first weekend of November, was cancelled.
M25 J10 - drivers be aware. Wisley Lane bridge opens Monday 11 November. For Wisley Lane & RHS Wisley use the turning on the left between A3 southbound off slip & Ockham Lane North (B2039) & cross the new bridge, following the brown signs. pic.twitter.com/DKmOWRjYag
— National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) November 10, 2024
