Businesses back £7 million scheme for M3 and M27 (From Daily Echo)
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Businesses back £7 million scheme for M3 and M27
5:55am Monday 8th October 2012 in News
By Tom Moseley, Parliamentary Correspondent
Businesses back £7 million scheme for M3 abd M37
The Government cash was welcomed by politicians and business leaders across Hampshire.
Business bosses say they have been pushing transport chiefs for the investment for years and would be a great boost to the county’s economy.
Eastleigh council leader Keith House said the work would "help enormously".
He added: "Junction five is one of the big critical junctions of the M27 - this is a good news story.
“This will increase capacity on what can so often be a gridlocked junction."
The investment is part of a long-term bid to improve the entire junction, he added.
Chris Huhne, the Lib Dem MP for Eastleigh, said: "Improvements are long overdue. This is a big congestion blackspot, particularly during rush-hour."
Mr Huhne also called on Hampshire County Council to finally go ahead with the Chickenhall Lane link road to cut the traffic flow through Eastleigh town centre.
Nick Farthing, who chairs the planning and transport committee for Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "We have been arguing for this sort of stuff to happen for a long, long time."
The chamber had been working with local councils for a number of years to push for improvements to junction five, he said.
He added: "The fact that it is happening now is really good news.
"It means easier access to markets, easier access for people to get to work, stations and the airport and less congestion.
"Hopefully it will give people confidence to invest in the area."
WHAT WORK WILL BE DONE:
Junction 3, M27.
Widening westbound slip road, traffic lights added
Work starts in 2014 and finishes 2015
Cost: £2 million
Junction 5, M27
Widening slip roads, segregated left turn lane going eastbound.
Work starts in 2014 and finishes 2015.
Cost £4.9 million
Junction 9, A34/M3
Improvements to signage and lane markings.
Work starts and finishes next year
Cost: £400,000
