A VITAL route into Southampton will be closed overnight for the next four months.

Essential work to upgrade the M271 will get underway in the coming weeks.

Starting on September 14 closures will be in place from 9pm to 6am each day, according to Highways England.

However, the work which includes resurfacing, painting new markings and junction upgrades will be done in different phases.

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This means traffic will be diverted by using Brownhill Way, the A33, A35 and A305, and would vary depending on which part of the M271 is closed.

Expected to end in December, the project will see the closure of the northbound M271 between Redbridge Roundabout and junction 1, both sides of the motorway between M27 junction 3 and Romsey Road Roundabout, the southbound route of the M271 between M27 junction 3 and Redbridge Roundabout; the roads leading to and from the southbound carriageway of the M271 at junction 1, and the roads leading from the northbound carriageway on the M271 at junction 1.

The news comes ahead of a closure of the M27 this weekend, which will see motorists diverted through Fareham.

MP for Southampton Test, Alan Whitehead said the surface of the M271 has been noticeably bad and how heavy trucks use the route to get to the port - so it has “suffered as a result”.

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The Labour politician said the upgrade is welcome as the carriageway is “certainly not in a good condition”.

However, he criticised the closures saying they sound to be a bit early in the evening.

A spokesperson from Highways England said: “Following the recent traffic management switch from the central reservation to the verge area, we will now be installing gantries between junction 4 and junction 11.

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“There will be a requirement for closures throughout this time, with clear diversion routes in place. Each gantry should be installed within one shift, allowing our operatives to regularly move throughout the scheme installing gantries as they go.”