Published on September 10, 2025

Motorists heading towards Gatwick Airport today, knowledgeable important delays pursuing a police-led incident that caused nan closure of nan M23 southbound. The incident has impacted postulation betwixt Junction 8 (Redhill/M25) and Junction 9 (Gatwick Airport), severely affecting travelers trying to entree nan airport. While nan northbound carriageway has since reopened, nan southbound conception remains closed, and authorities person warned that nan disruption could past for respective much hours.
Details of nan Incident
At astir 6 a.m. connected September 10, Surrey Police responded to a “concern for safety” incident connected nan M23 betwixt Junctions 8 and 9. While nan nonstop origin of nan incident has not been disclosed, it led to nan contiguous closure of nan southbound carriageway. The constabulary person confirmed that they are handling nan business successful collaboration pinch National Highways, though nary further accusation astir nan quality of nan incident has been made public. National Highways has confirmed that betterment and investigation activity is ongoing and that nan roadworthy is expected to stay closed for an extended period.
Surrey Police person reassured nan nationalist that officers are moving diligently to negociate nan segment and minimize further risks to roadworthy users. However, pinch nan quality of nan incident still nether investigation, nan closure has created uncertainty and has disrupted nan normal travel of postulation successful nan area. Drivers are urged to workout patience and travel charismatic guidance to guarantee their safety.
Impact connected Traffic
The closure of nan M23 has led to terrible disruptions not only connected nan motorway itself but besides connected surrounding roads, including nan A23 and different section routes starring to Gatwick Airport. Traffic congestion has go a awesome issue, arsenic drivers trying to bypass nan closed sections are met pinch bottlenecks connected these replacement routes. Reports bespeak that recreation times person accrued dramatically, pinch agelong queues and slow-moving postulation becoming nan norm.
The closure has importantly impacted those walking to Gatwick Airport, pinch galore passengers worried astir missing flights. As 1 of nan busiest airports successful nan UK, Gatwick relies connected nan M23 arsenic a awesome entree point, and disruptions specified arsenic this 1 tin person far-reaching consequences. Travelers person reported spending hours stuck successful postulation aliases incapable to proceed to their destinations owed to nan chaos caused by nan closure.
National Highways has confirmed that, though nan northbound carriageway has been reopened, nan southbound broadside will stay closed for nan clip being arsenic investigations continue. The ongoing betterment efforts are expected to support nan roadworthy closed for respective much hours.
Authorities are encouraging motorists to enactment updated pinch nan latest postulation information, pinch recreation apps and real-time updates from National Highways providing basal guidance connected alternate routes.
Advice for Travelers
Travelers intending to scope Gatwick Airport are powerfully advised to cheque nan latest postulation conditions earlier leaving. National Highways, on pinch Surrey Police, has group up diversion routes to thief alleviate nan congestion successful nan area. Those walking to nan airdrome are urged to let further clip for their journeys, arsenic delays are apt to persist passim nan day.
For those looking to debar nan closure area, replacement routes specified arsenic nan A23 and section roads person been identified arsenic imaginable detours. However, these routes person besides been impacted by nan accrued measurement of traffic, and delays are expected connected those roads arsenic well. Drivers are advised to travel nan diversion signs, which will guideline them astir nan closure area.
Travelers should besides see utilizing nationalist transportation, arsenic train services to Gatwick are little apt to beryllium affected by nan motorway closure. It is important to stay diligent and support up-to-date pinch charismatic accusation arsenic nan business develops.
Response from Authorities
National Highways and Surrey Police person emphasized that they are moving together to clear nan area arsenic quickly and safely arsenic possible. They are urging motorists to stay patient, travel nan diversion routes, and adhere to immoderate instructions provided by postulation guidance teams connected nan ground. Given nan complexity of nan incident and nan ongoing investigation, nan agencies progressive are focused connected minimizing risks to nationalist information and resolving nan business pinch minimal effect to different roadworthy users.
Although nan northbound lanes person reopened, National Highways has indicated that nan southbound closure could persist for a important period. Travelers should cheque nan National Highways website and societal media platforms for nan astir existent updates connected erstwhile nan roadworthy will afloat reopen.
Conclusion
The M23 southbound closure adjacent Gatwick Airport continues to origin wide disruption, affecting travelers crossed nan region. While nan northbound lanes person been reopened, nan southbound closure is expected to past for respective much hours, leaving motorists disappointment and uncertain astir erstwhile they tin proceed. National Highways and Surrey Police are actively managing nan incident, but location is nary clear timeline for nan reopening of nan affected conception of nan motorway. In nan meantime, motorists are urged to enactment informed, beryllium patient, and see replacement routes to minimize delays. Travelers should ever let other clip for their journeys and show charismatic channels for nan latest postulation updates.