Traffic chaos as four months of roadworks start at busy junction (From Daily Echo)

Four months of roadworks start at busy junction in Romsey, Hampshire

7:00am Friday 4th January 2013 in News By Echo Reporter

DRIVERS face four months of traffic chaos from next week as work starts at a busy Hampshire junction.

Contractors will be putting in traffic lights at the junction of Winchester Hill and Cupernham Lane in Romsey.

Engineers are expected to take up to 16 weeks to complete the £800,000 scheme which is aimed at cutting congestion in the area and making the junction safer.

It is being funded by developers building the new 800-home Abbotswood village near Woodley.

The work has originally been programmed to start before Christmas but was postponed to next week so it didn’t disrupt the festive season.

A section of Cupernham Lane near its junction with the A3090 at Winchester Hill will be closed while the improvements are carried out.

Hampshire County Council is also planning to install reflective bollards at the Belbins end of Cupernham Lane where it meets Sandy Lane following several accidents.

Romsey’s county councillor Mark Cooper, who has campaigned for years for improvements at the junction, said: “First, I’d like to apologise to Romsey residents for the coming traffic disruption.

“It’s a case of short-term pain for long- term gain. However, I welcome progress, at long last, on making this junction work better.”