Overnight closures of the M27 are due to get underway tonight. 

Traffic management for a scheme to improve the motorway surface will be installed westbound between Junction 9 (Park Gate) and Junction 5 (Stoneham) from 9pm until 6am.

The closures continue between 9pm and 6am tomorrow (March 19) between Junction 8 (Windhover roundabout) and Junction 5 and on Wednesday overnight between Junction 8 and Junction 4 (Chilworth interchange). 

READ MORE: Man charged following arrest for smuggling people to UK in boats and HGVs

Work will then switch to the eastbound carriageway with overnight closures set to continue until March 27. 

Motorists are being advised to plan more time for their journeys as the National Highways overlay project to create safer, quieter and smoother journeys on the M27 continues. 

To keep motorists and the workforce safe, the M27 will then be reduced to three lanes in each direction, with a 50mph speed limit and narrow lanes.

This phase of the scheme, to deliver an asphalt overlay, and carry out drainage repairs and safety enhancements to the central reservation, is expected to last until July 2024. 

National Highways Programme Delivery Manager Richard Scrase said: “We have done our best to keep any disruption to a minimum. We aim to keep as much traffic on the M27 as possible, as we’re aware of the impact that diversion route usage can have on local communities. We’ll try to reduce noise as much as possible, as well as aiming to carry out the noisiest work during the earliest part of the night.  

“However, we’re aware that our traffic management will cause delays on the M27 and on local roads during peak morning and evening times, while drivers become accustomed to the new road layout.” 

Fully signposted diversion routes will be in place.

On the M27 eastbound from junctions 4 and 5 to junctions 8 and 9, drivers will be diverted onto the M3 northbound, exiting at junction 13 to follow Leigh Road / the A335 eastbound. They will then be asked to follow the A335 southbound before turning left onto Wide Lane and driving southbound to reach the A27. They are then asked to follow the A27 eastbound before re-joining the M27. 

On the M27 westbound from junction 8 to junction 4,the diversion will follow the A27 westbound before turning right onto Wide Lane to travel northbound. Motorists will then be advised to follow Leigh Road westbound before joining the M3 southbound, then rejoining the M27 at junction 4. 

On the M27 westbound from junctions 8 and 9 to junction 5, they will follow the A27 westbound to reach Wide Lane, before turning right on Wide Lane to travel northbound and rejoining the M27 westbound at junction 5.