Driving
Overnight Motorway Closures: Check Tonight's Closures & Diversions
Driving late at night usually means clear roads, but it's also the prime time for major roadworks. If you've ever found yourself diverted off the M25 at 2 AM, you know how frustrating it can be.
1. Why close the road completely?
National Highways schedules major maintenance, resurfacing, and bridge repairs overnight (typically 10 PM to 5 AM) when traffic volumes are lowest. A full closure is often necessary for worker safety and to allow large machinery to operate across multiple lanes without risking accidents.
2. How do diversions work?
When a motorway is closed, National Highways sets up a signed diversion route using the local road network. These are often marked with specific symbols (like a hollow square or black triangle) on yellow signs. However, these local roads are rarely designed for motorway-level traffic, leading to significant delays even in the middle of the night.
3. How to avoid getting stuck
The best defence is checking before you travel. You can use Kermo's live roadworks map to see all planned overnight closures on motorways and major A-roads across England. By entering your postcode, you can instantly see if your route will be affected and plan an alternative before you leave.
Check live roadworks and closures near you
Use Kermo to turn the information in this guide into a practical vehicle or fuel check.
Check live roadworks and closures near you