National Highways advise Hampshire drivers to plan ahead as junctions on M27 close
Junctions nine to 11 are closing for major roadworks
Hampshire drivers are being urged to plan ahead as the M27 closures are planned to cause disruption across the county.
The motorway will be closed from junctions nine to 11 from this evening (Wednesday 24th December) at 8pm through until 4am on January 4th.
The £100 million project has been launched to upgrade junction 10 near Fareham to allow for increased traffic with the creation of the Welborne Garden Village development, which will provide up to 6,000 new homes.
Andrew Broughton, spokesperson for National Highways, said: "The M27 will be closed from Christmas Eve through until the 4th January, so quite a lengthy closure that if you're thinking of heading that way, definitely be prepared.
"There is a diversion route in place for that.
"We'd always say to plan and prepare and be ready.
"It's important that you do your preparation work in advance to make sure you know what the current conditions are.
"Christmas can be one of the busiest times on the roads, which is why we're lifting as many roadworks as we can.
"But there will still be some works out there, particularly if we look at the M27 where we have to carry out the work to keep the country moving."
A ready-made underpass weighing 8,500 tonnes is planned to be slid underneath the carriageway.
As part of the works to create an "all-moves" junction, the pre-constructed concrete structure, which is two and a half times heavier than HMS Victory, will be slid 65 metres into a trench cut into the motorway embankment.
The carriageway will then be reconstructed above the new underpass, during the complete closure of the motorway between junctions nine and 11.
Lulu Bowerman, Hampshire County Council's cabinet member for highways, said: "After months of meticulous planning, we are putting the final preparations in place for what will be a major and complex engineering operation.
"Once the M27 closes from 8pm on Christmas Eve, work will continue around the clock, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to complete the job safely and as quickly as possible.
"The signed diversion route along the A27 will be very busy, so if you are heading out over the festive period, please plan ahead, check your route beforehand, and consider if you need to travel in this area at all.
"The work has been planned at a time when traffic levels are lower, but we appreciate it will cause inconvenience, and we thank everyone for their understanding in advance as we deliver these vital improvements."
Andrew Jackson, National Highways programme manager, said: "Traffic levels are much lower over the festive period but there will be significant delays, and so our advice is to plan your journeys carefully.
"These works allow us to accelerate this important scheme and stimulate economic growth across the region by supporting the building of up to 6,000 new homes and the creation of thousands of new jobs."