M25 turns 40: Britain's infamous motorway's traffic chaos, rave scene and protests

M25 turns 40: Britain's infamous motorway's traffic chaos, rave scene and protests Since Margaret Thatcher opened the final stretch of the M25 in 1986, the 117-mile motorway, which orbits London, has faced regular traffic chaos and become an unlikely part of Britain’s booming rave scene Britain’s most notorious motorway is turning 40 — after four decades of traffic jams, protests and even playing an unlikely role in the country’s booming rave scene. The M25 was officially completed on October 29, 1986, when Margaret Thatcher opened its final stretch and hailed the mammoth project as a “magnificent achievement”. But while the 117-mile motorway has become a vital route around London, it has also earned a rather less impressive reputation among drivers over the years. And it appears the M25 wasted very little time living up to the reputation it would eventually earn. Mrs Thatcher cut the ribbon at around 11.15am — and, according to accounts from the time, a breakdown was reported on an already-open section of the motorway just minutes later. M25 cost nearly £1billion to build By that evening, motorists were already facing queues. It was perhaps a sign of things to come for a road that would eventually earn the less-than-flattering nickname “Britain’s biggest car park”. Plans for a road circling London had been discussed for decades before construction eventually began in the 1970s. The first section opened in September 1975, but another 11 years would pass before the full route was finally joined together with the opening of the final stretch between London Colney and South Mimms in Hertfordshire. By then, the motorway had cost almost £1billion to build and required more than two million tonnes of concrete. It was originally designed to carry around 100,000 vehicles a day, but it wasn’t long before the number of drivers using it soared beyond expectations. Parts of the M25 have since been widened and junctions upgraded in repeated attempts to keep traffic moving, while sections were later converted into smart motorway. Woman spent three days lost on the M25 after taking wrong turn While the M25 can feel like a never-ending journey for some, for one 84-year-old motorist that became a reality. Dorothy Taylor, from Ipswich, was driving to Brentwood to surprise her sister with a visit when one wrong turn saw her circle the 117-mile motorway at least twice. Eventually tired from driving, she pulled into a service area to get some rest. But the following day, Dorothy found herself in the same predicament and ended up spending another night at the same services. Her three-day journey finally came to an end when she ran out of petrol near Heathrow and was picked up by a police patrol car. At the time, she said: “I felt a bit of an old fool. I had not got a clue where I was and so I kept driving. I thought it was odd that I went over the same bridge, which turned out to be the Dartford Crossing, six or seven times. I lost count in the end, to be honest.” “I never felt worried, I stopped for food and rest breaks, but I did not want to ask anyone for help because they all looked in such a rush. I did not want to be a nuisance.” Chris Rea’s The Road to Hell The motorway's infamous congestion has also earned it an unexpected place in British music history. Chris Rea’s 1989 hit The Road to Hell is widely believed to have been inspired by the singer being stuck in traffic on the M25. The album of the same name went on to become his first UK number one and biggest-selling record of his career. But away from the traffic jams, the M25 also became an unlikely part of Britain’s booming rave scene. As rave culture exploded in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the orbital motorway became an unlikely part of the scene as thousands of young people travelled around its outskirts in search of secret parties. Revellers would head towards the M25 or gather at service stations while waiting for word on where that night’s rave would be held, before making their way to fields, warehouses and other venues around the capital. DJ Judge Jules previously recalled: “All that needed to be known was that these raves would take place somewhere on the periphery of the M25. You basically set off in the direction of it.” Just Stop Oil protests More recently, the M25 has become a prime target for environmental protestors. In November 2022, Just Stop Oil activists climbed gantries over the M25 during four days of demonstrations, forcing police to halt traffic and causing major disruption. The action went ahead despite a High Court injunction obtained by National Highways banning protesters from disrupting the country’s busiest motorway. Five activists involved in organising the protests were later jailed. Now, four decades after Thatcher cut the ribbon, the M25 remains a crucial route for London and the South East of England, carrying commuters, holidaymakers and freight around the capital every day. In its 40 years, the motorway has been widened, upgraded and protested on, while finding an unlikely place in both Britain’s music and rave history.