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 draining 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.
M27 junction 5 to 7 concrete overlay
Latest updates
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05 April 2024
Lane closures for emergency road marking
There will be lane and slip road closures on the M27 at two locations westbound between junctions 8 at Bursledon and 4 near Chilworth on the night of 6 April. This is for emergency road marking to help improve the visibility of the temporary road markings for the narrow lanes.
These closures will be in place from 9.00pm tomorrow night (6 April) until 6.00am on Sunday (7 April).
During this time designated diversion routes will be in place, you can find all diversion routes at the end of this eBulletin.
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13 March 2024
First phase of work and overnight closure dates
We’re about to start the first phase of the overlay scheme. During this phase, work will focus on hardening the central reservation, installing a new concrete barrier and installing crossover locations for future contraflow phases
During the scheme, we’ll reduce the M27 to three lanes in each direction, with a 50mph speed limit and narrow lanes in place, unless an overnight closure is in place. This will provide our operatives with a safe working area, and it will also ensure the safety of drivers on the motorway.
As our work begins in the central reservation, lane four on both carriageways will be closed until we move into the next phase. Phase 1 is currently expected to last until July 2024, at which point we’ll begin overlaying the eastbound carriageway in phase 2a.
Dates in March to install traffic management
We’ll begin installing traffic management on the westbound carriageway first, between 18 March 2024 and 20 March 2024. We’ll then switch carriageways and install traffic management on the eastbound carriageway from 21 March 2024 to 27 March 2024.
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. However, we need to close the M27 overnight between 9pm and 6am the following morning to install our traffic management.
Overnight full closure dates and details
Please see the below table, outlining all planned full closures associated with the installation of traffic management:
Date of closure Details of road closure 18 March M27 junction 9 westbound to M27 junction 5 19 March M27 junction 8 westbound to M27 junction 5 20 March M27 junction 8 westbound to M27 junction 4 21 March M3 southbound to M27 eastbound link road
M27 junction 4 eastbound to M27 junction 822 March M3 southbound to M27 eastbound link road
M27 junction 4 eastbound to M27 junction 8
23 March M3 southbound to M27 eastbound link road
M27 junction 5 eastbound to M27 junction 9
From 21 March 2024 to 27 March 2024, we’ll be closing certain lanes on the eastbound carriageway overnight, so we can complete the final activities relating to our traffic management installation. During this time drivers will be able to continue their journey on the M27, without the use of diversion routes.
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01 March 2024
Preparatory works during March
We need a number of overnight slip roads closures, as part of our preparatory works ahead of the installation of traffic management. The closures will take place between 9.00pm and 6.00am the next morning on the following dates:
Date(s) of closure Details of road closure 1 March 2024 M27 junction 7 eastbound entry slip road
2 and 3 March 2024 M27 junction 5 eastbound entry slip road 4 to 6 March 2024 M27 junction 8 westbound entry slip road 13 to 15 March 2024 M27 junction 5 westbound entry slip road 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.
During this time, designated diversion routes will be in place. Please join the M27 heading in the opposite direction, before exiting at the next junction, and re-joining the M27 heading in your desired direction.
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09 February 2024
Forthcoming work and announcing our information events
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.
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.
Overnight closure
We previously announced that all preparation works would take place under overnight lane closures. However, for safety reasons, we now need to close the M27 junction 7 westbound entry slip for one night, from 9.00pm to 6.00am on 17 February.
During this time, a designated diversion route will be in place. Drivers wishing to travel westbound from junction 7 will need to join the M27 eastbound carriageway at junction 7 and head towards junction 8. Drivers should then leave the M27 at the junction 8 eastbound exit slip road, before re-joining the M27 via the junction 8 westbound entry slip road and continuing their journey eastbound.
Public information events
We’re hosting several public information events in late-February, where you can meet our team, and have any questions answered regarding the project. The events will be at the following locations:
- 21 February (4pm to 6pm): West End Parish Centre (Sports Hall), Chapel Road, West End, SO30 3FE
- 22 February (10am to 6pm): Eastleigh Football Club, Silverlake Stadium, Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, SO50 9HT
- 23 February (10am to 6pm): 2000 Centre, St John’s Road, Hedge End, SO30 4AF
Our feedback tool - ECHO
You can also let us know what you think by using ‘ECHO’ (Every Customer Has an Opinion), our online feedback portal. This portal uses an interactive map that allows you to click on a location to make a specific comment or give us your general feedback. Either scan the following QR code below to be taken directly to our ECHO site or visit our scheme webpage where you will find a link within the ‘Give us your feedback’ section.
Please note that ECHO is a one-way feedback tool, so if you’d like a response to your feedback then please contact us by calling the 24/7 National Highways Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000, or email info@nationalhighways.co.uk.
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19 January 2024
Start of work
Our work to overlay the concrete surface of the M27 between junctions 5 and 7 begins shortly.
We will overlay the existing concrete surface with a lower-noise asphalt, which will reduce noise pollution for those living closest to the M27 and provide a smoother surface for drivers. We’ve increased the scope of the works to also include additional drainage repairs, which unfortunately delayed the planned start of the works.
Due to the complexity of the scheme, most of the construction will be done under contraflow traffic management. Before the contraflow is installed, we’ll first need to do some preparatory works, which are currently programmed to begin the week commencing 5 February 2024. The preparatory work will include the installation of temporary CCTV cameras, concrete repairs, and ground surveys and will be completed using overnight lane closures, to reduce disruption to the local community and the traveling public.
When the preparatory works are complete, we’ll begin the installation of our contraflow, which will require full overnight closures of both carriageways. We’ll write to you with more information regarding this, once the dates of these closures are confirmed.
Our current programme shows that the majority of on-site work will be completed by Spring 2026, and during this period there will be continuous activity while we work as quickly and as safely as possible to complete the necessary requirements.
We’re also planning to hold Public Information Events in mid-February, and we’ll be in touch again when the dates and locations are confirmed.
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01 March 2022
Detailed design work gets under way
We've started the project's detailed design, which is due to complete this autumn.
Between January and February, we also repaired the existing concrete in several places and replaced some of the concrete bays in preparation for the main overlay work next year. The whole concrete section will be overlaid with low-noise surface course system.
Project information
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.
Find out more about our nationwide Concrete Roads work.
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.
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 or visit our website at www.nationalhighways.co.uk/M27concrete
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Traffic information
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