An upgrade to the M3 in Hampshire that will improve journeys and boost the economy reaches its halfway stage with a key milestone this weekend.
The transformation of Junction 9 near Winchester includes reconfiguring the roundabout to allow for the motorway to be increased from two lanes to four as it passes under the junction.
A new roundabout, which has now been carrying traffic for several weeks, was built over the carriageway earlier this year, with essential ‘tie-in’ works completed over the summer.
Now, National Highways needs to demolish the old gyratory bridges to create space for the new free-flowing links at the junction to be developed.
To do that safely, the M3 carriageway will be closed in both directions between junctions 8 and 9 from 9pm on Friday 23 October until 6am on Monday 26 October so the old structures at the north side of the junction can be removed.
This work will then be repeated over another full weekend closure two weeks later (from 6-9 November) to demolish the bridges at the south side of the junction.
Daniel Kittredge, National Highways Senior Project Manager, said: “We need to upgrade this junction to unlock its full potential as a key interchange for economic growth.
“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 M3 Junction 9 upgrade is essential to support the building of 2,000 new homes in Winchester, and will improve reliability for drivers – with peak time journeys set to be almost 30 per cent faster through the junction to the A272.
The junction is a key route between the Midlands and the south coast, and between the M3 and A34, drivers will save more than 20 per cent of their overall journey time during peak hours.
(Picture: National Highways)
