Motorists face 60-mile diversion during M27 closure

Motorists planning on using the M27 motorway in Hampshire this weekend are advised to reconsider their route after Highways England announced roads between Junctions 3 and 5 would be closed from Friday evening, September 28, to the Monday morning, October 1.

Vehicles wanting to take the 5.5-mile stretch will instead be diverted onto an alternative route as is standard practice. However, for those vehicles heading westbound this will mean taking a massive 60-mile detour.

This taxing route travels on the M3, A34, A303, A345 and A36, via Andover and Salisbury, and is estimated to take more than an hour to drive.

The most direct route between the two junctions without using the M27 is around eight miles long, but involves travelling through the centre of Southampton – not a practical route, especially for heavy goods vehicles or during rush hour.

Those heading eastbound will face a less taxing 13.4-mile route. Traffic will be diverted off the motorway and directed towards Romsey. High-sided vehicles will need to avoid Romsey’s low bridges, and will be diverted along the A27 through North Baddesley, while those under the height limit will take the A3090 to the M3 south of Winchester.

The motorway will be closed to upgrade the aging Romsey Road Bridge, located between Junction 3 and 4 of the M27 as part of a £19m project.

A statement from Highways England said: “Our work to replace the Romsey Road bridge over the M27 is a vital part of our work to ensure that the bridges on England’s major roads remain operating safely and reliably for the millions of people who depend on them every day.

“We understand that these closures will inevitably cause considerable disruption in the area and we advise that road users plan journeys in advance, especially those heading for the ports.

“We also urge drivers – especially those of HGVs or similar heavy and high-sided vehicles – to follow the signed diversion routes as these have been chosen as they are the most suitable routes and can cope with heavy flows of traffic.”

The stretch will be closed again in April and October 2019 to finish the bridge replacement.