Traffic delays in around Portsmouth as M27 westbound interchange is closed all weekend
Traffic delays are expected to continue across the weekend as a result of the westbound M27 interchange in Portsmouth being closed for bridge repairs.
The westbound interchange - where it meets the M275 and A27 - has been closed at the Portsbridge roundabout from 9pm on Friday, September 5 until Monday, September 8 at 6am as part of National Highways’ project to repair the bridges at junction 12.
Diversions are in place, but delays built up on Saturday, September 6 on the A27 heading westbound back past Bedhampton, as well as delays on the Eastern Road - which itself which has a lane closure southbound as a result of the burst sewage pipe.
Traffic was also busy across Portsdown Hill and through Widley and Purbrook, as well as Cosham and Drayton. This is expected to happen again on the Sunday (September 7).
Diversion route
Drivers continuing westbound will need to leave the M27 at the Portsbridge Roundabout and take the second exit onto the A27 Western Road. Once at the traffic lights they will then need to turn left onto Southampton Road and re-join the M27 westbound carriageway from there.
For drivers heading into Portsmouth via the M275, they will need to follow the same diversion, but when on Southampton Road, keep in the left hand lane to join the M275 southbound.
Expansion joints will be replaced on both bridges and waterproofing and resurfacing will take place, as well as repairs to the concrete underneath both bridges, and drainage upgraded to maintain safety.
This weekend’s closure will see a specialist team come into remove a layer of asbestos to allow the National Highways’ team and contractors to complete repairs. It will take two weekends to complete with the same section closing again at the end of this month.
The second closure was pushed back to 9pm on Friday, September 26 to 6am on Monday, September 29 to minimise disruption for Portsmouth fans travelling to the away fixture against Southampton and the home fixture against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, September 14 and Saturday, September 20 respectively.
Remaining closures for the project
Full weekend closures:
Friday, September 5 at 9pm, to Monday, September 8 at 6am (Westbound)
Friday, September 26 at 9pm, to Monday, September 29 at 6am (Westbound)
Friday, October 10 at 9pm, to Monday, October 13 at 6am (Eastbound)
Friday, October 17 at 9pm, to Monday, October 20 at 6am (Eastbound)
Overnight closures (9pm to 6am):
Monday, September 29 to Friday, October 3 (Westbound)
Monday, November 3 to Friday, November 7 (Eastbound)
Further details on the project can be found on the National Highways’ website.
If you’re affected by the incident reported above – or just want to avoid getting caught in delays – the AA Traffic News tool can help. It shows live updates on congestion, accidents and roadworks across the UK. Just enter your postcode or click ‘Find my location’ to see what’s happening on the roads near you. You can also plan a full route, avoid motorways or tolls, and check travel conditions before you leave.