Winchester is set to see faster, safer journeys and 2000 new homes, as ministers approve the M3 J9 scheme in South Hampshire. Backed by £290 million of government funding, the road scheme will significantly speed up journey times, reducing the current bottleneck and saving commuters, businesses and tourists hundreds of hours each week.
Peak time journeys through the junction to the A272 into Winchester will be almost 30% faster. Between the M3 and A34, drivers will save more than 20% of their overall journey time during peak hours.
The scheme is also essential to building 2000 new homes in Winchester, another milestone for this government’s Plan for Change to deliver 1.5 million homes over the next five years. To deliver this target, last month, the government also announced it was approving over £200 million for the A47 Thickthorn Junction in Norwich, which will support 43,000 homes in Norwich.
To mark this significant landmark for drivers and businesses in Hampshire, the Transport Secretary visited the M3 J9 to mark the approval of the scheme and understand its impact on the local economy.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:
“Anyone who uses this junction knows how frustrating it can be. But our £290 million investment will save thousands of hours for commuters, tourists and freight every week, unlocking the true potential of our ports to deliver economic growth.
“We’re building rather than blocking so that we can get our economy growing. Approving these works, and the 2,000 homes it will support, is just another milestone on the way to delivering 1.5 million homes in this Parliament as part of our Plan for Change.”
The junction is a key interchange for economic growth, connecting the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth to ship millions of tonnes of freight every year, providing a vital link for those travelling to the south coast and beyond.
Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Nick Adams-King, said:
“This is a vitally important route both locally as well as nationally, connecting the manufacturing heartlands of the Midlands and North with the export ports in the South. I therefore welcome this investment in crucial infrastructure, which will help to improve journey reliability and times, boosting economic growth locally and supporting the development of new homes and communities nearby.
“I”t will also help to ease traffic pressures in central Winchester, enabling us to improve the public spaces, walking, cycling and bus services in the city, as well as the air quality.”
Pic: Mapillary
