One of the busiest motorways in the country will benefit from an enormous funding boost of almost £300million to slash thousands of hours of traffic for commuters.
The M3 in South Hampshire will receive £290million in Government funding to make upgrades to Junction 9 and develop 2,000 new homes.
It is hoped that the scheme will significantly speed up journey times, reduce the current bottleneck and save commuters hundreds of hours a week.
Once the developments have been completed, the Department for Transport estimates that peak time journeys through J9 to the A272 in Winchester will be almost 30 per cent faster.
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Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the new funding would make journeys faster for thousands of drivers
PA
Drivers will also benefit from journey times being 20 per cent faster during peak hours between the M3 and the A34.
The funding will be crucial to the development of 2,000 new homes in Winchester as part of Labour’s Plan for Change, which involves delivering 1.5 new homes over the next five years.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander noted how “frustrating” the junction can be, adding that the new funding will “unlock the true potential” of ports to deliver economic growth.
She added: “We’re building rather than blocking so that we can get our economy growing.
“This Government is investing in vital road schemes with huge economic benefits, and so far we’ve invested half a billion pounds for six schemes across England to renew our long neglected national infrastructure.”
Alexander, who represents Swindon South for Labour, is visiting the M3 J9 to mark the approval of the scheme and understand the importance of the local economy.
The junction has been identified as crucial to the local area by connecting the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth to ship millions of tonnes of freight every year.
Councillor Nick Adams-King, Leader of Hampshire County Council, described the funding and the new plans for the M3 as “vitally important” to connect the south with the Midlands and north of England.
He said: “I therefore welcome this investment in crucial infrastructure, which will help to improve journey reliability and times, boosting economic growth locally and supporting the development of new homes and communities nearby.
“It will also help to ease traffic pressures in central Winchester, enabling us to improve the public spaces, walking, cycling and bus services in the city, as well as the air quality.”
It is hoped the new design of the M3 will improve safety by extending the southbound slip to allow motorists more time to join the motorway.
National Highways chief executive Nick Harris also backed the development scheme, saying it will bring “substantial benefits” to people who use the route every day.
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The M3 will benefit from £290million in additional funding from the Government
PA
“Our improvements will provide a safer and more integrated road network that will boost economic growth, reduce congestion and noise, and create faster, more reliable journeys for all road users,” Harris added.
In February, the Government also committed to approving more than £200million for the A47 Thickthorn Junction in Norwich, which will support 43,000 homes.
Labour has also given the green light to the £90million project on the A130 Fairglen Interchange, the South East Aylesbury Link Road, the A350 Chippenham Bypass and the A647 scheme in Leeds.