Work on the first phase of a scheme to improve the road system at Junction 5 of the M27 (Eastleigh and Southampton Airport junction) is set to start in October and will last six months.
The scheme “aims to help traffic flow more smoothly and freely, reducing congestion and making it easier to get to and from Southampton Airport, Eastleigh and Southampton”.
Ultimately an additional three segregated left turn lanes will be provided, the remaining roundabout approaches are to be widened providing additional lanes, and the roundabout will be widened to three lanes. The junction will be fully controlled with traffic lights.
The work will be carried out in three phases and phase one will provide a segregated left turn lane between the westbound off-slip and the A335 Stoneham Way southbound carriageway.
Hampshire County Council says currently peak hour delays regularly cause dangerous queues back onto the motorway. “It is important for us to take steps to improve the junction’s capacity now, especially when you consider the planned growth for the area over the next 20 years or so,” said Councillor Mel Kendal, Executive Member for Environment at Hampshire County Council.
More info about the scheme is here.