UK-based Highways England is set to carry out a major road upgrade at Junction 9 of the M3, where it connects the A34 near Winchester, to improve journey time and safety.

The junction will be redesigned to create dedicated free flow lanes that will enable the vehicles travelling between the M3 and the A34 to avoid using the junction roundabout.

The roundabout will also be overhauled into a new ‘dumbbell’ layout to improve its capacity and enhance safety.

Highways England project manager Simon Hewett said: “Junction 9 is a vital interchange between the M3 and A34. With more than 6,000 vehicles using the junction each hour during peak times, it can often become congested, with queues backing up onto the main carriageway.

“With the new dedicated link roads, traffic will not have to stop at the roundabout, freeing it up for local traffic and commuters.”

“With the new dedicated link roads, traffic will not have to stop at the roundabout, freeing it up for local traffic and commuters.”

The plans are currently open for a public consultation, which will end on 19 February this year.

The M3 serves as the main road between London and the Solent Ports, while the A34 is the main corridor connecting the south coast and the Midlands.

The project will receive funding from the Department for Transport’s £15bn Roads Investment Strategy announced in 2014 to improve road network and reduce congestion.

Subject to a successful consultation period and subsequent procedures, construction of the project is set to start in 2021 and would take two years to complete.