M3 junction 9 public consultation

Overview

Investing in your roads

Over the next eight weeks between 2 July and 27 August 2019 we are consulting on our proposal to provide free-flowing road links between the M3 and the A34, both northbound and southbound, with no need to enter the junction 9 roundabout to travel between the A34 and M3. The A34 southbound link will pass the M3 with a 50mph speed limit.

Our proposals aim to reduce congestion on the newly designed dumbbell road layout, helping to make journey times more reliable, improve road safety and reduce air pollution.

We are keen to hear your views on our proposal; specifically on how the proposal may affect you, your organisation or those you represent. 

Public consultation exhibitions

One of the best ways to find out more about our proposal and have your say is to come to one of our public consultation exhibitions. You will be able to find out more about the scheme and speak to members of the project team who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Deposit points

Consultation brochures and response forms will be available at the following local locations between Tuesday 02 July 2019 and Tuesday 27 August 2019 (availability will depend on opening times). 

Links to the consultation brochure, the consultation response form and the Statement of Community Consultation can be found below however paper copies are available upon request and supplied free of charge.

Paper copies of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR), will incur a reasonable charge to cover printing, postage and VAT (at 20%), up to a maximum of £200. Please contact Highways England regarding payment methods – you can call our Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000 or email M3junction9Improvements@highwaysengland.co.uk.

Share your views

Share your views about our proposal using one of the following methods:

• Online – complete the response form online below
• Write – to us at: FREEPOST M3 junction 9
• Complete a paper copy of the consultation response form and return it using the freepost address provided above
• Email – your response to: M3junction9Improvements@highwaysengland.co.uk

Why your views matter

Background

We consulted on this scheme in January and February 2018, where we received 854 responses to our options consultation. The majority of respondents were in favour of Option 14.

The results of the consultation are available to view in our public consultation report , along with the Preferred Route Announcement leaflet which provides more detail about Option 14.

The need for the scheme

Approximately 110,000 vehicles use this junction every day, and the current junction design cannot cope. If improvements aren’t made then the problem will only become worse. This will not only have a negative impact on junction 9 itself, but also on many of the surrounding roads.

The objectives of the scheme are to:

• improve safety as a result of a reduction in delays and queue lengths
• support economic growth by unlocking development capacity for jobs, business and housing creation
• reduce congestion and increase journey time reliability
• improve the environment by reducing adverse noise, improving air quality and making sure there is no net loss to biodiversity
• improve accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders.

Our proposed design

Our proposal provides M3/A34 northbound free-flowing  and A34/M3 southbound link free-flowing routes, with no need to enter the junction 9 roundabout to travel between the M3 and A34. The A34 southbound link will pass the M3 with a 50mph speed limit. These changes will reduce congestion on the newly designed dumbbell road layout, helping to make journey times more reliable, improve road safety and reduce air pollution.

A number of improvements are proposed to the junction:

• traffic between the M3 and A34 will use free-flowing links between these roads, instead of the existing junction
• the M3 will be widened from two to four lanes between the south-facing roundabout slips and the new free-flow links with the A33/A34
• new subways through the junction will create a continuous, segregated route for pedestrians and cyclists between the South Downs National Park, Winnall and Abbots Worthy
• existing traffic signals will be removed and slip roads between the M3 and the new dumbbell roundabout will be realigned.

What happens next

Next steps

This consultation closes on 27 August 2019 at 11.59pm. We will then review and analyse all the suggestions and comments received and produce a short summary of the feedback we received which will be published during Winter 2019 on this public consultation webpage.

Your feedback will be considered as we make further refinements to the proposed design and develop our planned mitigation measures. A more detailed summary of the feedback received will be provided in our Consultation Report, which will also explain how our proposals have been informed and influenced by this feedback. The Consultation Report will form part of our application for development consent and will be available to the public following submission of the application, and will also be published on this webpage.

We expect to submit our application for development consent by the beginning of 2020 and, subject to approval, work will start in 2021. In addition to this consultation process, we will continue to engage with anyone interested in, or impacted by the scheme. To help us shape the final design in preparation for our submission to the Planning Inspectorate it is important you are involved at this stage of the consultation process.

Once we submit our application, the Planning Inspectorate (acting on behalf of the Secretary of State) may examine the application and make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport, who will decide whether or not the scheme will go ahead.