The Government’s independent planning authority, the Planning Inspectorate, has today (16 December 2022) confirmed it has accepted National Highway’s application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for detailed examination of plans to upgrade junction 9 on the M3 at Winchester.
National Highways submitted its planning application for the project on 21 November following an extensive programme of assessments, consultations and engagement with stakeholders and local communities. If the DCO is granted, construction could start as early as 2024.
The M3 connects south Hampshire with London, the Midlands and the North. Junction 9, where the M3 interchanges with the A34, regularly experiences congestion and is a key part of the major route to the Midlands and the ports on the south coast.
Caption: Visualisation of the upgraded junction when complete
Roughly 6,000 vehicles an hour go through junction 9 during peak periods and traffic is particularly heavy between the M3 and the A34, with frequent queues on the northbound off-slip of the M3 which are a safety risk. The new proposed layout for the junction aims to create safer journeys, reduce congestion, make journey times more reliable and provide a better environment for walkers and cyclists.
National Highways senior project manager Tom Beasley said:
“This is a major milestone for the scheme to upgrade the Winchester junction on the M3. The acceptance of the DCO means our plans can now be taken forward for robust and thorough examination by independent, government-appointed experts."
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