Planning Application Submitted for Major A326 Improvement Scheme

Plans to upgrade a key section of the A326 in Hampshire have progressed with the submission of a planning application covering road widening, junction enhancements and active travel infrastructure.

The £187 million Waterside improvement project, which has already received approval from Hampshire County Council, aims to improve capacity, safety and connectivity along the route while supporting sustainable transport options.

Under the proposals, approximately 2.6 kilometres of the A326 would be converted from a single carriageway to a dual carriageway between Michigan Way and Cocklydown Lane. A further 1.5-kilometre stretch between Hounsdown and Staplewood Lane would be widened to provide an additional southbound lane.

The scheme includes upgrades to several key junctions along the corridor, including Michigan Way roundabout, Netley Marsh, Fletchwood Road, Monkton Lane, Cocklydown Lane, Staplewood Lane, Twiggs Lane, the proposed Pilgrim Inn double roundabout and Main Road.

A new double roundabout at Pilgrim Inn is intended to improve access to Marchwood, while Main Road roundabout would be expanded and signalised, with additional traffic lanes and revised turning arrangements to improve traffic flow.

Several measures designed to encourage walking and cycling are also included within the plans. Three modal filters would be introduced to discourage through-traffic while maintaining access for pedestrians and cyclists. Proposed restrictions at Staplewood Lane and Twiggs Lane would support safer local travel, including the creation of a School Street outside Marchwood CofE Infants School.

To improve connectivity across the route, seven new signal-controlled crossings and a number of toucan crossings are proposed, helping people travel between communities east of the A326 and the New Forest National Park to the west. Existing shared pedestrian and cycle routes would also be widened and upgraded.

Given the project's location near environmentally sensitive areas, a range of ecological and environmental mitigation measures form an important part of the design. These include new landscaping, habitat protection initiatives and a dedicated mammal tunnel beneath the A326 at Bartley Water. The structure is intended to provide a safe crossing point for otters and other wildlife, particularly during periods of flooding.

Additional features proposed as part of the scheme include new roundabouts, extra traffic lanes and further measures aimed at balancing transport improvements with environmental protection.