Footage reveals incredible transformation at M3 Junction 9 as project approaches major milestone

Remarkable videos reveal the huge progress made to transform a motorway junction in Hampshire as the project approaches another key milestone.

National Highways is upgrading Junction 9 of the M3 to improve journeys for thousands of drivers every day and unlock economic benefits for the whole country.

Timelapse footage captures the significant progress already made on site, including the installation of steel beams earlier this year, which marked a key milestone in the construction of the new bridge decks that carry traffic and will form the alignment of the new roundabout.

Tom Beasley, National Highways Programme Manager, said: “This junction is a key interchange for economic growth, connecting the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth to the rest of the country, but it needs an upgrade to unlock its full potential.

“This vibrant footage offers a brief snapshot into the huge amount of work we’ve done in recent months to prepare the new roundabout, which is fundamental to improving those links.

“We always do our best to minimise disruption and would urge anyone travelling in the area to check which roads are affected and plan their route carefully before setting off.”

Since the steel beams were installed, engineers have prepared the bridge deck surfaces and excavated the approaches that will connect to the new roundabout.

Reconfiguring the roundabout in this way will allow for the M3 to be increased from two lanes to four as it passes under the junction.

Cameras have also revealed the extent of the work done to establish a new, dedicated A34 northbound link, which will provide a crucial route for freight travel from the ports to the Midlands and beyond.

It comes as National Highways moves onto the next stage of the upgrade project, with three weekend closures planned over the coming months.

Over these closures we will be working to connect the new bridges to the existing roads and allow the new roundabout to be fully operational later this year.

From 9pm on Friday 31 July, the roundabout, slip roads and several surrounding roads will all be closed until 6am on Monday 3 August.

The same applies for the weekends of 21–24 August and 11–14 September, though the main M3 carriageway will remain open throughout all three closures.

During each closure, stretches of the A34, A33 and A272 Spitfire Link will be closed, while the junction’s northbound entry slip road will stay closed from 9pm Friday 31 July all the way through until winter 2027.

The M3 Junction 9 upgrade is essential to support the building of 2,000 new homes in Winchester, and will improve reliability for drivers – with peak time journeys set to be almost 30 per cent faster through the junction to the A272.

Between the M3 and A34, drivers will save more than 20 per cent of their overall journey time during peak hours.

The project will also provide a host of environmental benefits, including more than 22 acres of chalk grassland, as well as new routes for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.