February 12, 2001 9:18: COMMUTERS are facing more traffic chaos with roadworks taking place on the M25 for four months.

An £11.5 million comprehensive programme of improvements is underway on the M25 between junctions 16 and 17, between the junction with the M40 and Rickmansworth.

The improvements started this month and are planned to upgrade the road surface and reduce congestion.

There will be lane and carriageway closures, contraflow systems and a 50mph mandatory speed limit, though in order to reduce delays, work to prepare for the contraflow will mainly be restricted to nights.

Arvind Ranpuria, Highways Agency project manager, said: "Most of the works are essential repairs to the concrete carriageway designed to ensure long and trouble-free life."

The project stems from the Government's 10 Year Transport Plan, which aims to reduce congestion by five per cent over the next decade. The Government aims to provide quieter roads on 60 per cent of the national network by 2010.