M27 reopened and 55-mile diversion lifted after bridge works are completed

The motorway had been shut between J3, at the slip road to the M271, and J4, at the M3 turn-off, from 9pm on Friday.

Highways England announced the road reopened just after midnight – hours before its scheduled 6am slot.

Highways England said on Twitter: ‘The closures on the #M27 east and westbound between #J3 #Nursling and #J4 #Chilworth including the #M3 southbound link to #M27 for the #Romsey Road bridge have been lifted as these works have completed - so road re-open.’

In a bid to avoid gridlock, a lengthy diversion which avoided country roads was in place while the route was shut.

This weekend’s closure marked the final stage in a £19m project, seeing the old Romsey Road bridge demolished.

The motorway had to be shut off for divers’ safety.