M27 junction 5 to 7 concrete overlay

Latest updates

• 22 November 2024

  Junction 5 update and forthcoming closures

  Good news - We're opening the dedicated slip road at Junction 5 much earlier than planned.

  You will be able to use it before Christmas.

  Closures

  To complete our work at junction 5 and remove the closure, as well as overlay around junction 7, we need to close:

  • the eastbound slip roads at Junctions 5 and 7
  • the eastbound exit slip road at Junction 8

  Closures will be overnight only (9pm to 6am) on the following dates:

  • Saturday 30 November to Friday 6 December
  • Monday 9 December to Tuesday 10 December
  • Friday 13 December to Friday 20 December

  The 13 December – 20 December dates are contingency planning dates, which we may not need. However, please take note of them in case the weather or any other factors mean we have work still to finish.

  Diversion Routes

  These diversion routes will be in use when slip roads at Junctions 5 and 7 are closed.

  When the Junction 5 eastbound entry slip road is closed

  Please join the M27 westbound, leave at Junction 3 and then join the M27 eastbound.

  When the Junction 7 eastbound entry slip road is closed

  Follow the A27 eastbound to Junction 8 then join the M27 eastbound.

  When all M27 eastbound exit slip roads are closed

  Please stay on the M27 to Junction 9, where you should leave and re-join the westbound side and then leave at the junction you need.

  Progress across the project

  We're well underway with overlay work on lanes one and two on the eastbound carriageway, which will continue until April next year.

  Watch our video to catch up on our progress

  Learn more about opening the dedicated slip road at junction 5. Find out how far through the project we are and how soon you'll experience the benefits of the new low-noise surface. 

• 12 November 2024

  Junction 5 lane closure

  In mid-October, we made changes to traffic management at the M27 junction 5 roundabout. These included the closure of the dedicated entry lane.

  The closure is necessary to protect our team resurfacing lanes one and two of the eastbound carriageway.

  We understand this closure has an impact on journey times in the area. We apologise for any inconvenience.

  Unfortunately, we can't keep this entry lane open as the current setup doesn’t support two access points. The lane now ends within our active work area.

  We and our partners are trying to find ways to speed up the schedule and remove the closure as soon as possible.

  We expect to decide on a new programme date by Monday 18 November. We’ll publicise it as soon as it’s confirmed.

  This work is part of an essential upgrade to concrete roads built in the 1970s, like the M27. These roads are nearing the end of their service life. It’s crucial to keep the M27 in top condition for the 140,000 vehicles that travel on it each day.

  We know it’s not always easy navigating roadworks on your daily journey. We’re grateful for your patience and understanding as we complete this work.

• 28 October 2024

  What's coming up in November

  Our improvement project to provide a low-noise surface along the M27 between junctions 5 and 7 continues to make progress. Our recent switch to phase 2b went well, and drivers are now able to travel along the new surface in place along the outside lanes of the eastbound carriageway. 

  As part of the next phase of the scheme, we’ll need to undertake a variety of tasks including routine maintenance, improving sign visibility, and some technology works. We can’t complete these tasks under lane closures for safety reasons, so we’ll need to close the main carriageway and will do this overnight to limit inconvenience as much as possible:

  The following overnight closures are scheduled to take place:

  • M27 junction 4 eastbound to M27 junction 9: 9pm November 4 to 6am November 5
  • M27 junction 8 westbound to M27 junction 4: 9pm to 6am each night, 12 November to 14 November

  Diversion routes

  For the M27 junction 4 eastbound to M27 junction 9 diversion:

  • join the M3 travelling northbound
  • exit the M3 at junction 13 and follow Leigh Road/A335 eastbound
  • turn right onto the A335 travelling southbound
  • turn left onto Wide Lane travelling southbound until reaching the A27
  • follow the A27 eastbound until reaching the M27 at junction 9
  • re-join the M27 eastbound carriageway at junction 9

  For the M27 junction 8 westbound to M27 junction 4 diversion:

  • exit the M27 at junction 8
  • follow the A27 westbound until reaching Wide Lane
  • turn right onto Wide Lane and travel northbound
  • turn left onto Leigh Road / A335 and travel westbound
  • join the M3 southbound carriageway at M3 junction 13
  • travel southbound until joining the M27 westbound carriageway via  M3 southbound to M27 westbound link road

  Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England website. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

• 26 September 2024

  What’s coming up this month

  Our work to overlay the two outside lanes of the eastbound carriageway will be complete soon, after which we’ll move our traffic management again before entering phase 2b on 16 October 2024.

  Phase 2b will focus on finishing the eastbound carriageway as we overlay the two nearside lanes, as well as carry out some work in the verge.

  M27 Junction 7 eastbound exit slip road

  As part of our work to install phase 2b of the scheme, we also need to close the M27 junction 7 eastbound exit slip road from 9pm 15 October to 6am 19 October. This is so we can alter the gradient of the slip road as we’re overlaying the existing surface by 180mm. In certain locations, this means we need to complete additional work to ensure traffic joining the motorway can do so smoothly and safely.  

  Light vegetation clearance

  In early October, we need to improve the visibility of some signs by removing light vegetation surrounding them. This will take place overnight between 9pm and 6am on 6 and 7 October.

  We’ll be using light tools to complete the vegetation removal, and chipping will be completed off site to reduce any potential disruption.

  We will have to close certain slip roads overnight on the dates listed below so we can move the barriers into a new layout and undertake light vegetation clearance. Details of our diversion routes are at the end of this update.

  Overnight closures, 9pm to 6am

  6 October 2024

  • M27 junction 8 westbound entry and exit slip roads

  7 October 2024

  • M27 junction 7 westbound entry and exit slip roads
  • M27 junction 8 westbound entry and exit slip roads

  8 October – 13 October 2024

  • M27 Junction 5 eastbound entry and exit slip roads
  • M27 Junction 7 eastbound entry and exit slip roads
  • M27 Junction 8 eastbound exit slip road

  15 October – 19 October 2024

  • M27 Junction 5 eastbound entry and exit slip roads
  • M27 Junction 7 eastbound entry and exit slip roads
  • M27 junction 8 eastbound exit slip road

  Day/night closure

  9pm 15 October to 6am 19 October

  • M27 Junction 7 eastbound exit slip road

  Overnight closures, 9pm to 6am

  19 October – 27 October 2024 

  • M27 Junction 5 eastbound entry and exit slip roads
  • M27 Junction 7 eastbound exit slip road
  • M27 junction 8 eastbound exit slip road

  It’s important to note that drivers travelling on the eastbound carriageway will not be able to exit at junctions 5, 7, or 8 if travelling in the contraflow lane. This is inclusive of overnight lane closures from 15 October to 27 October.

  Moving barriers along the road will be noisy at times, and we apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption this may cause. 

  Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

• 12 September 2024

  Overnight slip road closures

  We are progressing to the next phase in the project and need to move cables in the verge so we can carry out further drainage repairs.

  To complete this safely, we will need some overnight slip road closures, 10pm to 5.30am, as follows:

  From 17 September to 19 September, 25 September to 28 September, and 8 October to 9 October:

  Eastbound - junction 5 entry slip road. Traffic will be diverted westbound at junction 5, before then joining the M27 eastbound at junction 3.

  Eastbound – junction 5 exit slip road. Traffic will continue on the M27 to junction 9, before then returning westbound at junction 9, and exiting the M27 at junction 5.

  Eastbound - junction 7 entry slip road. Traffic will be diverted eastbound on the A27 (Kanes Hill), before joining the M27 at junction 8.

  Eastbound – junction 7 exit slip road. Traffic will continue on the M27 to junction 9, before then returning westbound at junction 9, and exiting the M27 at junction 7.

  Eastbound - junction 8 exit slip road. Traffic will continue on the M27 to junction 9, before then returning westbound at junction 9, and exiting the M27 at junction 8.

  Please note, all dates are subject to change due to operational requirements or adverse weather.

• 29 August 2024

  Preparing to work on the eastbound carriageway

  We're moving contraflow barriers and traffic management between junctions 5 and 7 of the M27.

  This is part of our preparations for overlaying on the eastbound carriageway.

  Closures

  To complete the move, we need to close the M27 overnight (10pm to 5.30am) from 27 August to 16 September at the following locations

  Eastbound - junction 5 entry slip road

  Traffic will be diverted westbound at junction 5, then join the M27 eastbound at junction 3.

  Eastbound – junction 5 exit slip road

  Traffic will continue on the M27 to junction 9, then return westbound at junction 9 and exit the M27 at junction 5.

  Eastbound - junction 7 entry slip road

  Traffic will be diverted eastbound on the A27 (Kanes Hill), before joining the M27 at junction 8.

  Eastbound – junction 7 exit slip road

  Traffic will continue on the M27 to junction 9, then return westbound at junction 9 and exit the M27 at junction 7.

  Eastbound - junction 8 exit slip road

  Traffic will continue on the M27 to junction 9, then return westbound at junction 9 and exit the M27 at junction 8.

  Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

• 25 July 2024

  What's coming in August

  We’ve almost finished hardening the central reservation and repairing concrete bays and drainage.

  We're also installing the new concrete barrier and crossover locations for our next phase of work.

  From early August we'll start overlaying the outside lanes of the eastbound carriageway with low-noise asphalt.

  We'll need to close the M27 overnight (9pm to 6am) at various times during August and September to do this work.

  Please remember that closure details can change at short notice. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our daily closures page.

  Locations

  Westbound - Junction 9 to junction 8 (diversion to junction 7)

  Westbound - Junction 8 westbound to M27 junction 4

  Eastbound - Junction 4 to junction 7 (diversion to junction 8)

  Eastbound - junction 5 entry slip road and junction 7 entry slip road

  Contraflow

  From early August 2024, there will be a contraflow within our roadworks. We'll maintain three lanes in each direction during daytime hours, although we'll need some lane and full overnight closures at times.

  Drivers travelling along the eastbound contraflow will only be able to exit at junction 5 or 7, if using the inside lanes.

  Drivers travelling in the third lane will bypass these junctions and continue towards junction 8.

• 09 February 2024

  Forthcoming work

  As part of our ongoing preparation work, we need to complete some concrete repairs on the carriageway. We can only repair the concrete when a lane closure is in place, and as our contraflow traffic management hasn’t been installed yet the work must take place overnight. This work will take place in various locations from 19 February 2024 to 15 March 2024.

  Please remember that closure details can change at short notice.  For the most up-to-date information, please visit our daily closures page.

  We’ll aim to carry out any noisy work during the earliest part of the night, and we’ll make every effort to carefully manage noise levels to minimise the impact of this work. We’re sorry for any inconvenience or disruption this may cause.