The Secretary of State for Transport has approved plans that will transform journeys around junction 9 of the M3.

A £200 million scheme to create free-flowing links between the M3 and the A34 will improve connections between the south coast, the Midlands and London, reduce congestion, improve safety and introduce new networks for active travel, benefiting local communities.

It has been granted a development consent order (DCO) by Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Mark Harper MP. A DCO is a form of planning permission for a development which is seen as nationally important for the infrastructure of the country.

Traffic levels are high at junction 9 between the M3 and A34, resulting in lengthy queues on the northbound off-slip of the M3 and A272 Spitfire Link, affecting journey times and road safety.

We will change the junction so that it has free-flowing links between the M3 and the A34 in both directions.

The junction will be widened, with two new bridges built to create a new gyratory, allowing the M3 to increase from 3 lanes to 4 as it passes under the junction.

The southbound slip road onto the M3 will be extended so traffic has more time to join the motorway and improve the safety of the junction with upgraded signs and gantries.

Walkers, cyclists and horse-riders will also benefit from the scheme with non-motorised routes connecting Kings Worthy and Winnall and Long Walk and Easton Lane.

Our Senior Project Manager for the scheme Tom Beasley said:

“We are delighted with today’s announcement that the DCO for the M3 junction 9 improvement has been granted. We look forward to commencing construction to start solving the issues at the junction.