A £20M SCHEME to improve a notorious bottleneck on the M27 has been given the green light.

Highways England have announced the go-ahead for the upgrade of junction 9, near Fareham, in a bid to curb congestion.

The new layout will include additional lanes on both slip roads and on the northern and southern sections of the junction’s roundabout to increase capacity.

Cash for the project has come from the government’s £100 million Growth and Housing Fund which provides money for road improvements that are needed to support new developments.

Roads in the Whiteley estate, Rookery Avenue and Parkway will also be widened with an additional £15m of funding from the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Both of the schemes will be delivered by Hampshire County Council.

Councillor Rob Humby, pictured right, Hampshire County Council’s transport portfolio holder, said “Whiteley is an extremely important business hub for the south, and this project will give existing businesses the confidence to invest, as well as unlock new economic development potential in the area.”

Highways England chief executive Jim O’Sullivan said: “England’s strategic roads are vital for economic success, connecting businesses, people and supporting the government’s agenda of employment and growth.”

George Hollingberry, MP for Meon Valley said: “The Government promised this substantial infrastructure investment and has now delivered it meaning the easing of congestion at this junction for thousands of motorists using the M27 and for Whiteley residents and businesses who have had to put up with traffic problems at this bottleneck for many years.”

Councillor Sean Woodward, pictured below, leader of Fareham Borough Council, said: “This infrastructure is critical to help safeguard and create more jobs and to provide much needed new homes for Fareham people.

he aid the motorway improvements would help bring forward, the 3,500-home North Whiteley development, which is now expected to go ahead within the next few months.

As previously reported, North Whitley was put on hold until adequate funding to enhance road operations was in place.

Winchester City Council confirmed that the legal agreement to commence work on the development was close to being signed.

Work on the scheme is expected to start within 3 years.