Part of the M27 in Hampshire will close over Christmas

Hampshire County Council is warning of a major closure on the M27 later next month.

The motorway will shut in both directions between junctions 9 and 11 from 8 pm on the 24^th of December until 4 am on the 4^th of January.

Road bosses say the closure is needed to install a new underpass.

Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Councillor Lulu Bowerman said: “We have scheduled this work to take place during the holiday period when traffic levels are lower. However, we know this is a special time of year, and the last thing anyone wants is a festive traffic headache. That’s why with just under one month before the closure we’re reminding people to plan ahead and consider what the impact could be for their travel arrangements during this time. Road users should anticipate severe delays on the A27 diversion route and the surrounding area, especially for people travelling in the Fareham and Gosport areas. The message is to look at your options - maybe take public transport, travel earlier or later, try a different route, or even ask yourself if the trip is really necessary.”

Key information road users need to know during these works:
• The M27 will be closed completely, in both directions, between Junctions 9 (Whiteley) and 11 (Fareham), from 8pm, 24 December 2025 to 4am on Sunday 4 January 2026.
• There will be a signed diversion route along the A27, which is mostly two lanes in each direction, during the closure. This is expected to be busy every day and drivers should be prepared for severe delays. 
• Drivers will be able to exit the M27 westbound at Junction 11 for Fareham and Gosport, and eastbound at Junction 9 for Whiteley and Park Gate. However, there will be no westbound entry to the M27 at Junction 11 for traffic heading towards Southampton or the A32 (Alton), and no eastbound entry at Junction 9 for traffic heading towards Portsmouth. 

To reduce disruption and help keep traffic moving during the closure, a series of measures are in place or planned:
• Advance inspections and repairs have been completed on the A27, plus there is a restriction on planned roadworks along the A27 during December 2025 and January 2026.
• Advance signage across the wider road network, including the M25, M3, M4, A3, A27 and A34, to inform drivers early and support re-routing. Traffic levels will be monitored in real time, with updates displayed on electronic messaging signs.
• Traffic signal reprogramming at key locations including M27 Junctions 9 and 11, and the A27, to help manage traffic flows during the closure.
• Free recovery scheme on the official diversion route, supported by a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order enforcing ‘no waiting’ and ‘no loading’ restrictions, ensuring broken-down vehicles can be removed swiftly.
• Coordination across key agencies, including Hampshire’s emergency services and local authorities. 
 
The £100 million+ scheme is being delivered by Hampshire County Council, working closely with National Highways. It is fully funded by the Buckland Group, the developer of Welborne Garden Village, and by Homes England. The new underpass will connect Fareham with the Welborne Garden Village development, improving access to the M27 and supporting future growth in the area.

Over the closure period, a giant pre-constructed concrete structure - weighing approximately 8,500 tonnes (2.5 times heavier than HMS Victory) - will be slid 65 metres into a trench cut into the motorway embankment, from its current construction location on the north of the M27. The motorway will then be fully reconstructed above it (watch the short film showing the box slide process).

Once complete, the new underpass under the M27 will carry four lanes of traffic - two in each direction - along with a shared walking and cycling route, improving connectivity between Fareham and the new Welborne Garden Village development.

A series of complementary highways improvements on and around Junction 10 are being delivered by the County Council to support the development of Welborne Garden Village, which is due to provide up to 6,000 homes alongside schools and community services, just outside Fareham, and to provide better access to the M27. Under planning conditions for the Welborne development, no more than 1,160 new homes can be occupied until the new ‘all-moves’ Junction 10 on the M27 is completed and operational.

The two-year construction scheme is due to be open to traffic in winter 2026.