Councillors take up M25 widening issues

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 26th Oct 2007

The Government is proposing to widen the M25 to four lanes in both directions between Junctions 16 &23 (M40 to South Mimms) , starting in 2009 and finishing in 2012. There have been similar plans before but this time all the work will take place within the existing highway land by making the verges steeper and constructing retaining walls .

The Highways Agency recently held public exhibitions of the plans at Henderson Hall. Many local residents and LibDem councillors attended and raised a number of issues. Amongst the subjects raised by councillors were the increase in noise, light and fume pollution, the loss of mature trees and shrubs and the need for low noise road surfaces.

Councillors also expressed concern about traffic management during the construction period. We all know the gridlock that can occur on local roads when the motorway is closed. It is essential that local roads do not suffer from vehicles trying to short-cut the roadworks and the inevitable delays.

We were not satisfied with assurances that this will not happen and TRDC has now written officially to request details of the traffic management plans.