WIREDGOV

Work to maintain the safety and reliability of the Portsbridge Viaduct at Hilsea started on Monday 19 April.

The work is planned to take three weeks, weather permitting, and will be undertaken overnight between 10pm to 6am Monday to Friday.

The Highways Agency is carrying out the work overnight when traffic flows are at their lowest.

Traffic management for the work will be implemented in three phases:-

Phase One
There will be a full carriageway closure of the westbound M27 between the Portsbridge roundabout, where the A3, M27 and Western Road meet, and junction 12.

Diversion - Drivers wishing to travel westbound on the M27 or southbound onto the M275 will be directed to leave the M27 at Portsbridge roundabout, travelling along Western Road, turning left on Southampton Road, back to the M27 at junction 12.

Phase Two
There will be a full carriageway closure of the M275 northbound link road round to the eastbound M27, with lane closures between junction 12 and the A27.

Diversion - traffic wishing to travel north on M275 to the eastbound A27, will be directed west onto M27, via junction 12, onto Southampton Road, turn right onto Western Road to the Portsbridge roundabout and back onto the eastbound M27.

Phase Three
There will be a full carriageway closure on the eastbound M27 between junction 12 and the A27, with lane closures on the M275 northbound link road to the eastbound M27.

Diversion - Traffic wishing to travel eastbound on the M27 will be directed to take the M275 to the Rudmore roundabout, returning north on the M275 to rejoin the eastbound M27/A27.

The diversions will be signposted.

Notes to Editors

1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England's motorways and trunk roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.

2. Real-time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads is available:
- From our Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the internet at www.trafficradio.org.uk To tune into the DAB service, simply press the "scan" button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through the channels until you reach "Traffic Radio".
- From the web at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic or www.highways.gov.uk/mobile if using a phone or mobile device.
Before using any mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call.
- By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT residential landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary).

4. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time (Calls to 0845 numbers will cost no more than 4p per minute from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary).

Safety at roadworks
The Highways Agency is working with the industry and road users to reduce the risks of working on the roads. For the safety of road workers and all road users, when you are approaching roadworks:

- Keep within the speed limit - it is there for your safety.
- Get into the correct lane in good time - don't keep switching.
- Concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks.
- Be alert for works' traffic leaving or entering roadworks.
- Keep a safe distance - there could be queues in front.
- Observe all signs - they are there to help you.

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Issued by the Highways Agency South East press office.

SE090-10

Contacts:

Highways Agency
NDS.HighwaysAgency@coi.gov.uk

Peter O'Connor
Phone: 01306 878110
Mobile: 07876 577687
peter.o'connor@highways.gsi.gov.uk

James. Wright
Phone: 01883 745364
Mobile: 07813 778 689
james.wright@highways.gsi.gov.uk

Roger Jones.
Phone: 01306 878348
Mobile: 07733 003 606
roger.jones@highways.gsi.gov.uk