M27 junction 5 to 7 concrete overlay
This project will provide a low-noise surface along the M27 between junctions 5 and 7. We're also making significant drainage improvements to the road and safety improvements to the central reservation. All together these measures will ensure a smoother ride for drivers, make the road quieter, improve safety and ensure the road lasts longer.
Latest updates
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Project information
Surfacing operations: laying the new, low noise, asphalt surfacing
The new, linear drainage channel, improving water management
View from on high of the new overlay completed eastbound lanes 3 and 4 asphalt surfacing
Work in progress overlaying the old concrete surface with the new low noise, asphalt surfacing
A bird’s eye view of the scheme’s progress, with surfacing at the M27 junction 7 off-slip road
Overview
The concrete layer of the M27 between junction 5 and 7 will be overlaid with 180mm of low noise surface asphalt. Due to the thickness of this new asphalt layer, we'll need to make changes to the existing barrier systems, drainage, structures and other assets.
Concrete roads make up almost 400 miles (4%) of England’s motorway and major A-road network. Around half of these roads will either have repairs or be replaced by 2025, as part of our commitment to delivering the Government's second Road Investment Strategy to maintain and renew the strategic road network.
We’ll be using innovative techniques and new technology to provide a modern road that will last for decades to come, and which is easier and quicker for us to repair in future.
Improvement scheme video
Benefits
The road surface was designed to have an average life span of 50 years. Concrete roads have proved tough and durable over the years, needing very little in the way of maintenance or the roadworks that can affect people’s journeys.
However, the surface is now reaching the stage where it will need to be repaired or replaced for safety reasons, to reduce noise and improve it for driving on. The thick asphalt overlay of the M27 will ensure that the concrete stays stable for much longer and we won't need to replace it in a few years.
The M27 at this location passes through several Noise Important Areas. The new low-noise surface will help to reduce the noise and will benefit the communities living near the road.
Give us your feedback
You can see from the information above what we're planning for this stretch of the M27.
Do you have any thoughts or comments? If so, did you know you can share them using our interactive map? Click on a location to make a specific comment and give us your feedback.
Please note, this is a one-way feedback tool. If you’d like more information about our work, then please contact us by calling the 24/7 National Highways Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000, email info@nationalhighways.co.uk.
Documents
Traffic information
Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.X
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