Friday’s morning commute turned into a lengthy ordeal for thousands of motorists after an overnight roadworks project on the M25 failed to finish on schedule, triggering major congestion around Enfield and causing delays that rippled across a large section of the motorway network.
The disruption centred on the M25 anticlockwise carriageway between Junction 27 for the M11 and Junction 25 near Enfield. National Highways confirmed that planned maintenance works had overrun because of unforeseen circumstances, forcing the closure to remain in place beyond the planned overnight window and directly into one of the busiest travel periods of the day.
Initial traffic reports indicated delays of around 45 minutes alongside six miles of congestion approaching the closure. However, conditions deteriorated rapidly as more vehicles joined the network during peak commuting hours. Live traffic services later showed queues extending to around 10 miles before reaching approximately 11 miles, creating a substantial backlog for drivers travelling around the north-eastern section of the London orbital motorway.
Traffic monitoring data suggested the impact extended well beyond the immediate closure point. A severe congestion alert covering the M25 anticlockwise between Junction 29 and Junction 27 warned that journeys were taking around one hour and 30 minutes longer than normal. Traffic camera images from the area showed long lines of vehicles stretching across multiple lanes, with many motorists moving only slowly or remaining stationary for extended periods.
The absence of a confirmed reopening time added further uncertainty. National Highways stated that there was no estimate for when the carriageway would reopen, while Google Maps suggested the roadworks could potentially conclude around 11.30am. That timeframe was never officially confirmed, leaving many drivers relying on live traffic updates before deciding whether to continue their journeys or seek alternative routes.
Rush-hour disruption highlights pressure on key motorway link
The affected section plays an important role in connecting traffic between Essex, Hertfordshire, North London and the M11 corridor. Any significant disruption in this area can quickly affect surrounding roads as drivers divert away from congestion hotspots. Local routes around Enfield, Epping and Waltham Abbey experienced additional pressure as motorists searched for ways around the closure.
Many commuters voiced frustration online as journey times continued to rise throughout the morning. Some reported taking more than an hour to travel only a few miles, while others said arrival times had slipped by well over an hour compared with their original estimates. The combination of an active motorway closure, growing queues and the lack of a firm reopening schedule created difficult conditions for both local and long-distance travellers.
The latest incident serves as another reminder of how vulnerable the M25 can be to disruption when incidents occur during peak travel periods. Similar network-wide delays were seen during major delays caused by a multi-lorry crash near Brentwood, where congestion spread far beyond the immediate incident location and affected traffic across multiple sections of the motorway.
Transport specialists often note that the M25 carries some of the highest traffic volumes in the UK, meaning recovery can take hours once congestion begins to build. Even relatively short closures can create long-lasting delays when they coincide with the morning or evening rush hour.
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Drivers travelling through the affected area were advised to allow additional journey time and monitor official updates from National Highways. While traffic conditions are expected to improve once the closure is lifted, residual congestion may continue to affect journeys until normal traffic flow is restored across the route.
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