First phase of £200m motorway works begin

The project aims to create free-flowing lanes between the A33, A34 and M3

Work to prepare for a £200m renovation scheme on a motorway is getting underway.

National Highways is preparing junction 9 of the M3 near Winchester ahead of major work to improve journey times for motorists.

The organisation confirmed it would be starting compound construction and vegetation management in October.

Construction is set to start in early 2025 and finish in later 2027.

A statement from National Highways explained its teams would be carrying out vegetation clearance to prepare the site compound.

It explained: "We’ll do this carefully, with thorough checks to protect wildlife.

"In some areas we’ll plant new vegetation to support habitats for species like dormice."

The agency will also start installing services, foundations and parking for officers and welfare facilities, and a site entrance will be created on the A272 Spitfire Link.

The statement added: "Most work will take place during daytime hours on weekdays, away from roads.

"Occasional night work will require lane closures, we’ll issue advance signage with more information."

National Highways will also carry out archaological surveys from mid-October, which will involve stripping and replacing the top layers of soil.

This work will take place away from the road, a spokesperson confirmed.

The work comes after the government approved plans to change junction 9 so it has "free-flowing" links between the M3 and the A34 in both directions.

National Highways intends to widen the junction and create two new bridges on the gyratory, increasing access to the M3 from 3 lanes to 4.

It will also be extending the southbound slip onto the M3 so traffic has more time to join the motorway.