M3 junction 9 improvements

We’re proposing to change junction 9, so it has free-flowing links between the M3 and the A34 both northbound and southbound.

Start date 2023-24

End date Road Period 3 (2025-2030)

Cost £125 - £175 million

Latest updates

09 May 2022

Development Consent Order update

We’re applying for development consent for improvements to junction 9 later than we originally announced. We’re now looking to apply by Spring 2023 at the latest. This gives us time to consider how our design will tie-in with the existing road layout as opposed to a smart motorway layout.

Earlier this year, Government asked National Highways to pause all smart motorway projects that were in their early stages, including the M3 J9-14 project. The pause on M3 J9-14 means we must adapt the designs and materials we submit to the Planning Inspectorate as part of our application for consent to improve junction 9.

We’re applying later than originally planned but this allows us time to adapt some parts of our design so that when we come to submit our application for consent to improve junction 9 to the Planning Inspectorate, it has all the information needed to fully consider our application.

We’re working hard to gather and analyse additional data so we can submit our application as soon as possible, with next Spring being the latest.

We’re committed to making sure our application is as comprehensive and complete as possible.

The delay in applying for consent to build means our date for starting construction will also be later

If you have any queries about this update, please contact us by phone on:0300 123 5000 or by email: m3j9improvements@nationalhighways.co.uk
22 December 2021

Additional consultation after changes to land boundary

A statutory consultation was previously held between 27 May and 8 July 2021.

We listened to the feedback and the responses received, and as a result have developed our proposals further. This means a small amount of additional land is needed and we’ve had to change the Indicative Application Boundary.

Due to these changes, before submitting our Development Consent Order (DCO) application to the Secretary of State for Transport in 2022, we have had to consult with people that have a legal interest in the land that may be compulsory acquired by the Scheme. This consultation took place between 17 November and 22 December 2021.

The changes planned at M3 junction 9 are a critical part of our ongoing investment in the strategic road network and will improve journey times between south Hampshire and London via the M3 and the midlands and the north via the A34.

Further information about the Planning Act 2008 process and Development Consent Orders can be found on the Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure Planning website: http://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/
09 November 2021

Consultation summary report now available

Following our community consultation on the project design that ran for six weeks from 27 May to 8 July 2021, we have written a Consultation Summary Report.

As set out in 2021 Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC), the summary report contains the initial feedback and views from the community and its stakeholders all of which will help us to develop proposals further and understand any concerns about the project ahead of the DCO (Development Consent Order) application.

What happens now?

We will continue to develop our proposals further for the DCO submission, that will include a longer Consultation Report that summarises all the feedback we received and how it has informed the development of the scheme. Although the Secretary of State for Transport will decide whether to give permission for the scheme, local planning authorities such as Winchester City Council, Hampshire County Council and the South Downs National Park Authority have an important role to play in the process. We’ve already been talking to them about our proposals and will continue to engage before, during and after we submit the DCO to the government, via the Planning Inspectorate, which is likely to happen in early 2022.

The Planning Inspectorate will then examine the DCO application, with input from interested parties and statutory consultees. The examination period is a maximum of six months. Following the examination, the Planning Inspectorate will present its recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport, who will then make the final decision on whether the DCO should be granted. We’ll carry on working on our detailed design throughout this process and, assuming the DCO application is successful, we expect to start construction work by mid to late 2023.
19 July 2021
Consultation now closed

The consultation on our latest designs for junction 9 is now closed.

All responses will now be reviewed and addressed in a Public Consultation Summary Report, which will be available on this webpage later this year. We will then look to submit our planning application in early 2022, with a decision to be made by the Secretary of State in 2023.

If we’re given permission to build the scheme we hope to start in 2023.

You can continue to view the latest designs, watch a fly-through and get information on the measures we're taking to protect the surrounding environment, by clicking on the consultation webpage.

Consultation webinar recordings

We hosted a series of webinars on particular topics between Wednesday 2 June and Thursday 17 June. Below are links to the recordings:
If the subtitles do not automatically appear when you open the video, you can click on the 'Settings' icon (in the bottom right corner of the You-tube video screen), click on 'Subtitles', then select 'English.
27 May 2021

We're consulting on our proposals for this junction

Visit our virtual room and see our latest designs, watch a fly-through and get information on the measures we're taking to protect the surrounding environment. Then take part in our consultation by giving us your thoughts and leaving your feedback by filling in our questionnaire.

We're also hosting a series of webinars on particular topics. These are free and open to everyone:

Introduction to the M3 Junction 9 improvement scheme and next steps - Wednesday 2 June, 7.00pm – 8.00pm and Saturday 5 June 3.30pm – 4.30pm

Our proposals – what we are planning to do - Tuesday 8 June, 9.30am – 10.30am and Thursday 17 June 7.00pm – 8.00pm

Our effect on the environment: overview - Thursday 10 June 7.00pm – 8.00pm

Our effect on the environment: landscape, visual impacts, wildlife and habitats Monday 14 June 7.00pm – 8.00pm

Our effect on the environment: air quality and noise Tuesday 15 June 7.00pm – 8.00pm

You can register for an online webinar and submit your questions in advance by emailing M3junction9Improvements@highwaysengland.co.uk or calling 0300 123 5000.

Speak to our team

Our team will be available Monday to Friday between midday to 7pm and Saturday between 10am to 4pm throughout the consultation period (27 May until 8 July) to discuss our proposals and to answer any questions you may have. You can book an appointment by emailing M3Junction9Improvements@highwaysengland.co.uk or call 0300 123 5000.

If you'd like a paper copy of any of the consultation documents, we can send these to you. Please note there may be a charge of up to £200 (including postage) for a paper copy of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report. All other consultation documents are available free of charge either in hard copy or digitally on a USB.

Please email: M3Junction9Improvements@highwaysengland.co.uk or call 0300 123 5000 to request a consultation document for delivery.
01 April 2020

Further public consultations

A full report on our 2019 design consultation will be available in spring 2020. We aim to go back out to public consultation with a further refined set of proposals later in 2020.
19 March 2020

Proposal review

We consulted the public on our proposals for improving junction 9 of the M3 in summer 2019. The feedback received during that consultation showed there is widespread support for changes to the junction which will reduce congestion and improve traffic flow.

Following feedback from our 2018 consultation, we made improvements on the A34/A33 northbound weaving lengths. In further feedback received in the 2019 summer consultation events, some people told us that they continued to be worried that weaving lengths northward of the new junction along the A34 were not long enough.

We have taken that feedback into account, along with new information from additional traffic modelling, and are now reviewing our original proposals. By doing this we’re making sure our final designs are for an even better performing junction.

See more updates

Project information

The M3 connects south Hampshire with London, the Midlands and the North. It is also part of a key freight route. Roughly 6,000 vehicles an hour go through junction 9 during peak periods and traffic is particularly heavy between the M3 and the A34, with frequent queues on the northbound off-slip of the M3 which are a safety risk. At the moment we reduce the queues by allocating more time on green at the traffic lights on the northbound off-slip of the M3 and the A34 link. This amended sequencing, in turn, causes lengthy queues on the A272 Spitfire Link and Easton Lane. Overall the junction creates a bottleneck and significant delays.

The new proposed layout for the junction aims to:

Improve safety by reducing queuing and delays
Reduce congestion and improve journey times
Reduce the number of people affected by noise and improve air quality
Improve conditions for non-motorised users – a new cycle path would connect with National Cycle Network Route 23 which is severed by the current layout
Support economic growth – improving road capacity which will help create jobs, improve business and support the building of new homes

The changes we’re proposing would reduce congestion at the junction and help make journey times more reliable. With less congestion there would also be fewer accidents and better air quality.