M3 closure: Delays expected as section of Hampshire motorway shut for the weekend

A section of a major Hampshire motorway is closed this weekend with delays expected.

The M3 is closed in both directions between junctions eight and nine until 6am on Monday, October 26 as National Highways carries out work to demolish old bridges on the northern side of the junction.

Drivers are being advised to plan their journeys and to allow for extra time on their journeys. This weekend’s closure is the first of two with a second closure taking place between November 6 and November 9.

Daniel Kittredge, National Highways’ senior project manager, said: “Anyone driving through the area can see the great progress we've made already over the last 18 months, and this key milestone allows us to move on to the next phase of the project, where drivers will really see the new benefits start to take shape.

“To do that safely, this stretch of the motorway will be closed over two weekends and anyone travelling is advised to plan their journeys carefully and allow extra time where possible.”

The work will make way for new free-flowing links as part of the multi-million pound junction upgrade, which includes widening the motorway from two lanes to four as it passes beneath Junction 9.

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A new roundabout built above the carriageway has already been carrying traffic for several weeks, following construction earlier this year and connecting works over the summer.

The scheme is designed to support the construction of 2,000 new homes in Winchester and improve journey reliability.

More details on the project can be found on the National Highways’ website.