Motorists have been warned of closures on the M27 as work gets underway to make the motorway quieter. 

National Highways has told drivers to plan ahead as overnight closures are set to begin on Monday (March 18) between junction five for Stoneham and junction seven for Hedge End. 

The work is the first phase of a project to deliver an asphalt overlay, making the motorway quieter, safer and smoother. 

Phase one will start with work on the central reservation including the installation of a new concrete barrier and crossover locations for future contraflow phases.

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This is expected to last until July with a series of full overnight closures due between March 18 and 27.

This will allow traffic management measures to be installed on the westbound carriageway between March 18 and 20.

This work will then be switched to the M27 eastbound from March 21 to 27.

From March 21 to 27 there will be lane closures on the eastbound and westbound carriageways overnight, allowing National Highways to complete the final activities around traffic management installation.

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During this time, drivers will be able to continue their journeys on the M27, without the use of diversion routes.  

Closures are scheduled to take place between 9pm and 6am as follows: 

  • March 18: M27 junction 9 westbound to M27 junction 5 
  • March 19: M27 junction 8 westbound to M27 junction 5 
  • March 20: M27 junction 8 westbound to M27 junction 4 
  • March 21: M3 southbound to M27 eastbound link road. M27 junction 4 eastbound to M27 junction 8  
  • March 22: M3 southbound to M27 eastbound link road. M27 junction 4 eastbound to M27 junction 8 
  • March 23: M3 southbound to M27 eastbound link road. M27 junction 5 eastbound to M27 junction 9 

Fully signposted diversion routes will be in place both eastbound and westbound. 

National Highways Programme Delivery Manager Richard Scrase said: “When the scheme is complete, it will provide a low-noise surface, which will create a much better experience for drivers on this route as well as ensuring the road lasts longer, ensuring less disruption in the longer term as it will need fewer repairs.

"The reduction in noise will also benefit communities living near this route.

“We have done our best to keep any disruption to a minimum.

"We aim to keep as much traffic on the M27 as possible, as we’re aware of the impact that diversion route usage can have on local communities.

"We’ll try to reduce noise as much as possible, as well as aiming to carry out the noisiest work during the earliest part of the night.  

“However, we’re aware that our traffic management will cause delays on the M27 and on local roads during peak morning and evening times, while drivers become accustomed to the new road layout.” 

The following diversions will be in place:

  • M27 eastbound from junctions 4 and 5 to junctions 8 and 9: Drivers will be diverted onto the M3 northbound, exiting at junction 13 to follow Leigh Road / the A335 eastbound. They will then be asked to follow the A335 southbound before turning left onto Wide Lane and driving southbound to reach the A27. They are then asked to follow the A27 eastbound before re-joining the M27. 
  • M27 westbound from junction 8 to junction 4: Follow the A27 westbound before turning right onto Wide Lane to travel northbound. They will then be advised to follow Leigh Road westbound before joining the M3 southbound, then rejoining the M27 at junction 4. 
  • M27 westbound from junctions 8 and 9 to junction 5: Follow the A27 westbound to reach Wide Lane, before turning right on Wide Lane to travel northbound and rejoining the M27 westbound at junction 5.