MOTORING mayhem is to hit Hampshire later this year when one of the county's busiest roads is to shut for six months.

The decision to close the route through Eastleigh at the same time as major road works are being carried out on the M27 has been described as "downright stupid".

County road chiefs have decided to shut Southampton Road from the summer holidays until Christmas for a £1.5m facelift which will see the carriageway and some footways resurfaced or reconstructed.

The closure will cause major chaos around the town and comes as motorists are already facing delays due to the 15 month £36 million works creating a fourth lane on the M27 at junction three.

Southampton Road is the main route linking Eastleigh and surrounding villages with Southampton, the M27 and Southampton Airport. It is also a major link to Eastleigh's shopping centre.

Councillor Chris Thomas, who is chairman of the Eastleigh Local Area Committee, said: "This is going to cause absolute motoring chaos, and it's barmy if they think they're going to complete it in December and not disrupt Christmas trade.

"We might us well all switch off the lights and go home."

As revealed by the Daily Echo, official figures showed there was a 15 per cent fall in shoppers last December compared with the previous year.

And the prospect of people being unable to reach the town centre for at least five months, including the busiest shopping period of the year in the run-up to Christmas, is increasing the misery.

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne is also fuming. "When I first heard about it I thought it was completely mad," he said.

"There is already so much development work going on in the town. The county must have taken leave of its senses to close down the busiest connecting road between Eastleigh and Southampton."

This latest traffic disruption comes at a time when the town is in the throes of one of its biggest ever developments.

There are already tailbacks at the roundabout near the multi-storey car park where a massive cinema and leisure complex is being built on the car park next to the Tesco store.

Part of Southampton Road, near the junction five roundabout of the M27, has been reduced to one lane while hundreds of homes are being built in the South Street area.

Major sewer pipe work is expected to take place next April in Chestnut Avenue - another major approach road to the town.

Hampshire County Council says the work is essential, and the majority of the road - from the roundabout at the junction with Twyford Road and Romsey Road to Lakeside Country Park - must close to ensure safety during the scheme. Drivers will be diverted around Stoneham Lane, Passfield Avenue, Leigh Road and Romsey Road.

Work is expected to start in July, although an exact date is still to be set because contractors are not yet in place. Homes and businesses in the area will be notified with further details but access for traders will be maintained and Eastleigh railway station car park will remain open.

The County Council's Executive Member for Environment Councillor Mel Kendal, said: "This much-needed major maintenance scheme will prolong the life of this section of the A335.

"With it being such a busy route there's little alternative but to close it to through traffic for safety reasons, and it will also reduce the time it takes to complete."

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