Abnormal load expected to cause motorway delays

Delays are expected on the M25 and M1 when a 350-tonne piece of equipment is transported to a power station.

The 50m-long (164ft) load will leave the Port of Tilbury in Essex and be taken to Millbrook in Bedfordshire on Saturday night into Sunday morning.

The equipment will be escorted by police as it makes its 79-mile (127km) journey - the second of three taking place between February and March.

Closures will be made from 20:00 GMT.

The equipment was due to leave the port at 16:00 and organisers hoped it would arrive between 10:00 and 12:00 on Sunday.

The 18-hour trip will move "essential" parts needed for the power station that, when complete, will provide enough electricity to power 150,000 households, a National Highways spokesperson said.

They said the first of the three journeys was completed successfully on 24 February, with a third set to take place on 23 March.

"This has been chosen as the safest route for the convoy to take and will move very slowly while it is on the road," the spokesperson added.

• The M25 between Junction 21a and Junction 19 will be closed in both directions between 22:00 GMT and 06:00

• The exit slips from the M1 onto the M25 at Junction 6a will be closed in both directions between 22:00 and 06:00

• The entry slip from the A12 onto the M25 anti-clockwise at Junction 28 will be closed between 20:00 and 05:00

• A temporary holding delay of about 30 minutes at the Gallows Corner roundabout on the A12 is "likely" to occur at about 22:00.

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