Portsmouth roadworks: M275 lane closures by SSEN likely to cause delays into city for second weekend in a row

For the second weekend in a row Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks will be carrying out works on Mile End Road, because there is a fault on a cable which brings electricity to tens of thousands of homes in Portsmouth.

Last weekend similar roadworks took place and caused long queues into the city with traffic being delayed up to an hour on the M275.

This weekend’s work is to same timeframe, with the A3 at Mile End Road going down to one lane after the rush-hour tonight, on both the northbound and southbound sides, and staying like that until Monday morning.

SSEN said: “Full road closures or diversions are not planned, and walking and cycling routes will remain open. Following agreement with Portsmouth City Council and the National Highways, SSEN’s engineers and its contractors will be working round the clock to carry out the works as safely and quickly as possible, without any planned interruption to power supplies.

“While traffic management will be in place to enable vehicles to move through the lane closures as easily as possible, SSEN is also funding additional park and ride services, so residents and visitors to the area have further, alternative means of transport during this time. People travelling to connecting ferry services leaving from Portsmouth are advised to leave extra time for their journeys.”

SSEN has described the work as essential, adding, “by carrying out the work at this time, the risk of a significant power outage in the future is significantly reduced.”

Drivers have been warned to avoid the M275 and the Mile End Road stretch of the A3.

Alternative routes in to the city suggested by SSEN - which is funding extra park and ride services over the weekend - include

• Driving in via Eastern Road, Copnor Road or London Road
• Using the park and ride
• Catching the train to Portsmouth and Southsea or Portsmouth Harbour stations, and parking at Havant or Fareham.