Smart Motorway gantry sign
A gantry structure spanning the motorway with electronic signals, blue signs showing an exit and the following text.
Exit destinations: A217 Sutton, Reigate, Redhill.
Forward destinations: Gatwick [Airport symbol] Dartford & (M20); Croydon M25 .
Junction number: 8.
This junction is at the top of Reigate Hill, after which we drop steeply to get to the bottom of the North Downs escarpment. You don't always think of this part of the world being quite as hilly as it is.
After this junction we join the Reigate to Godstone section of the M25, which was the first to open. It arrived in February 1976, just a few months after the M23 that crosses it halfway along.