Work on delayed bypass in Hampshire to begin next month
The project for Botley was due to open this year but has been pushed back
There has been a major update on a new bypass around a Hampshire village as work is set to start in February.
Botley Bypass was originally due to open in 2025 but that date has now been pushed back to 2027.
But Hampshire County Council has now agreed to spend £48.22m on building Botley Bypass, with “advanced works” starting in February.
The final phase of Botley Bypass will create a new road from Winchester Street (running eastwards), a new bridge crossing the River Hamble and a new roundabout at the A334 junction with the A3051.
It also will provide new and improved pedestrian and cycle routes.
The bypass is designed to increase road capacity and reduce congestion in Botley village, making local journeys to and from Southampton on the M27 easier.
Alongside the completion of the new road, improvements will be made in Botley village centre to promote the use of the new bypass.
Some existing highway spaces may be repurposed to encourage more active forms of transportation and enhance the urban environment.
The final design plans for Botley village and Woodhouse Lane (South) will be completed alongside the bypass construction.
With advanced works commencing in February 2025, the main construction contract is expected to start in Spring 2025.
Detailed planning and sequencing plans will be shared on the dedicated project webpage as details are finalised, and the new road is scheduled to open in summer 2027.
The bypass’s budget was originally set at £32 million, but an extra £16 million was allocated in July last year.
The cost increase was linked to a mix of market conditions and the finalisation of an improved design that tackled previously unknown and unexpected ground conditions at the river crossing.
Director of universal services Patrick Blogg said the project is the council’s “longstanding commitment.”
He said: “It is quite a complex project but we’ve got full funding in place and all agreed. The strategic case remains strong and is a key piece of infrastructure for the local area.”
On her decision day (January 28), executive member for universal services, Kristy North, said: “I’m really happy to approve the spending and enable the council to enter into the contractual arrangements to implement this final phase of the Botley bypass.
“As we’ve already said, it’s about improving local journeys and providing much-needed additional road capacity in this part of Hampshire, so it’s really good news.”