You may remember our Development Consent Order (DCO) application was accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate in December last year. A DCO is a special kind of planning permission required for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
We’re almost at the end of the pre-examination stage. This stage is where anyone can register as an Interested Party. Being an Interested Party means you can get involved in the examination period (the next stage) and give your views at public hearings.
Learn more about the process or register online by Monday 13 March 2023.
At the end of the examination period, the Examining Authority (a group appointed by the Planning Inspectorate to look through our application) submit a report to the Secretary of State for Transport. This report includes a recommendation on whether to grant the scheme. If our DCO is accepted, construction could start as early as 2024/25.
Keep an eye on our website for updates.
We need to do some ground surveys to help us continue with our detailed design. We’ll do these using overnight closures (usually between 9pm and 6am) from Monday 13 March through to mid-April.
We’ll need to close the M3 in both directions as well as the roads from the main junction roundabout.
For the most up to date information and diversion routes, please visit our website.
 We’re proposing a new free-flow link between the M3 and A34 in both directions to ease congestion and create more reliable journeys.
The M3 would be increased from three lanes to four as it passes underneath the junction roundabout. We would also improve safety by extending the southbound slip onto the M3, giving traffic more time to join the motorway.
When it comes to enhancing the local environment, a new walking and cycling route would be built between Kings Worthy and Winnall, and a new walking, cycling and horse-riding route would be built between Long Walk and Easton Lane.
You can find out more about the scheme by visiting our website.
 Further along the M3, we’re installing a new concrete barrier between junctions 9 and 14. All the foundation and drainage work between the M27 and Eastleigh has been completed and the new safer barrier has started to go in.
For more information and to learn how it’s made, visit our website.
 Did you know? Large vehicles, such as heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) have zones of limited visibility all around them.
The M3 is a key freight route between the south coast, London and the Midlands. Of all the miles driven by HGVs in England, two-thirds of HGV miles are driven on our network, which means you’re likely to come across them around the Winchester area.
There are three simple things you can do to stay safe:
- Stay visible
- Overtake with care
- Don’t tailgate
For more information and advice, please visit the National Highways website.
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