M27 will be closed next month to allow for a footbridge to be demolished

The motorway will close to traffic between junctions 9 and 11, including access off and onto the M27 at junction 10, from June 14 at 9pm to June 15  at 9pm.

The closure is to allow the demolition of the North Fareham footbridge. Highway bosses said the demolition is expected to be “noisy” and  the footbridge will not be replaced for at least six months.

The work will be led by Highways England.

In an official document project manager Mike Webster said: “Once the footbridge has been ‘munched’, and the rubble has been removed, we’ll be able to re-open the motorway again. The demolition of the footbridge will be noisy, and we apologise in advance for any disturbance caused. Where possible, we will mitigate the disturbance. ”

The work is part of the project to upgrade the M27 to smart motorway standard, which  include converting the hard shoulder on both the eastbound and westbound carriageways into a new live lane.

Mr Webster added: “The curvature of the underside of the footbridge currently doesn’t affect the hard shoulder on both the eastbound and westbound carriageway of the M27. However, when the smart motorway is complete, those hard shoulders will become live lanes.

“As a result, any lorries, or other tall vehicles that travel along the new live lanes will have a reduced height between them and the bottom of the footbridge, which goes against safety standards. Because of this, a solution is needed to ensure the safety of all travelling vehicles along the M27, once the smart motorway upgrade is complete.”

Wesbound traffic between junction 11 and 9 will be diverted onto the A27 towards Gorsport and while the eastbound traffic at junction 9 will be diverted onto the A27 towards  Segensworth.

The new footbridge will be a combination of concrete and prefabricated steelwork footbridge, with features for equestrian use.

These are the diversion routes that will be in place:

Westbound 11 to 9

• Please follow the diversion signs at junction 11 leading you onto the A27

towards Gosport

• Then follow the A27 towards Titchfield

• At the Station roundabout, take the first exit and continue along the A27,

heading towards Titchfield

• At the Titchfield gyratory, stay on the A27 heading towards Southampton

(M27), Bursledon, Sarisbury

• At the St Margret’s roundabout, stay on the A27 heading towards Southampton

(M27)

• At the Segensworth roundabout, stay on the A27 heading towards

Southampton (M27)

• Re-join the M27 westbound at junction 9

Eastbound Junction 9 to 11

• Please follow the diversion signs at junction 9 leading you onto the A27

towards Segensworth

• At the Segensworth roundabout, stay on the A27 heading towards Fareham

• At the St Margaret’s roundabout, stay on the A27 heading towards Portsmouth

(M27) and Fareham

• At the Titchfield gyratory, stay on the A27 heading towards Portsmouth (M27)

and Fareham

• At the Station roundabout, take the third exit and continue on the A27 heading

towards Portsmouth (M27)

• At the Quay Street roundabout, take the third exit and continue on the A27

heading towards Portsmouth (M27)

• Re-join the M27 eastbound at junction 11

Eastbound Junction 10 to 11

• Please follow the diversion signs at junction 10 leading you onto the A32

towards Fareham Town Centre

• At the Wickham Road roundabout, take the first exit and continue on the 32

heading towards Portchester

• At the Broadcut roundabout, stay on the A32 heading towards Portsmouth

(M27) and Fareham

• At the Delme roundabout, take the second exit heading towards Portsmouth

(M27)

• Re-join the M27 eastbound at junction 11