Fears of traffic chaos when M3 Junction 9 closes again

Queues hit quiet streets in Winchester earlier last weekend after National Highways shut Junction 9 of the M3 from July 31 to August 3.

Despite measures to limit disruption, there was gridlock, long queues and short tempers across Winchester city centre, especially on smaller roads.

One queue stretched from the city centre out to Kings Worthy.

Now a county councillor is to press the sat-nav companies to alter their guidance during the two forthcoming weekends to reduce the chance of a repeat.

Hyde resident and former city councillor Rose Burns wrote to county councillor Paula Ferguson (Lib Dem) about angry drivers, road rage and crashes on narrow, historic Hyde Street.

She said: "As I sit here on a Sunday morning, the traffic outside my windows is gridlocked.

"The loud sound of horns hooting every 5 or 10 minutes is indicative of drivers’ frustrations at not being able to drive down our narrow street without stopping to let cars through from the other direction.

"When they can move forward, frequently they go like bees out of bottles at speeds way over 20mph.

"I had a lousy night’s sleep, with HGVs and other noisy traffic thundering down the street at speed from 4.30am or even earlier.

"I had thought the street was restricted for lorries and coaches but that doesn’t seem to be the case now.

"As you may know, there are many Grade II listed houses either side of Hyde Street, of which ours is one.

"Some front straight onto the street and their foundations will be adversely affected by the vibrations of large vehicles travelling within 1.5-2 metres of them.

"We are told by the Hampshire Chronicle that ‘National Highways has advised against relying on satnavs for the diversion, warning that they may direct vehicles onto closed or unsuitable routes’.

"Well, this morning I can reliably inform you that the many furious drivers in our street couldn’t care less about it being an unsuitable route, whether using their satnavs or not."

Cllr Jackie Porter said local knowledge helped her avoid the worst traffic, but long queues remained.

Cllr Jackie Porter (Image: Chris Atkinson)

She said: "I have invited Cllr Steve Forster (Hampshire County Council cabinet member for Highways and Passenger Transport) to drive with me and see the impact so HCC can have a more proactive view.

"I think there is still a problem that needs to be addressed.

"One day last weekend, there was a period of time where the traffic was from the Cart and Horses junction all the way into Winchester, and it was going through Hyde.

"I think it was Sat-Navs and I have asked HCC to take roads off the traffic maps."

Cllr Porter added that plans are in place to signpost that Hyde Street is unsuitable for heavy traffic, but warned that it might lead to increased traffic on Worthy Road.

Cllr Forster said that HCC is working closely with National Highways to lessen the impact during future closures.

He said: "The closure last weekend did highlight some areas for potential improvements on the future weekend closures, and we are already working with National Highways, including talking about routing before the next closure.

"Part of that will be the communications put out by National Highways. There were a number of residents that were confused about the slip road closure and the full roundabout closure; that is something that needs to be improved. We are asking National Highways to put out some much clearer comms so people are aware".

Cllr Forster added that, in the grander scheme of things, the disruption over the weekend was not as bad as it could have been.

A National Highways spokesperson said: "This phase of our M3 Junction 9 upgrade is crucial in tying together lots of work we’ve already done, allowing us to create free-flowing links through the junction.

"We thank drivers for their patience during these closures and as they start to use the junction differently."

Two more M3 closures of Junction 9 are planned: August 21 to 24 and September 11 to 14.

The main M3 carriageway will remain open throughout.