Hampshire’s M27 to Close Over Christmas for Groundbreaking Engineering Project

Major Motorway Closure Impacts Hampshire This Festive Season

Hampshire is preparing for a significant disruption to travel this Christmas and New Year as the M27 motorway will be closed completely in both directions between Junctions 9 (Whiteley) and 11 (Fareham) from 8pm on 24 December 2025 to 4am on 4 January 2026. This unprecedented closure marks a critical phase in the county’s infrastructure development, affecting thousands of motorists during the busy festive period.

Innovative Engineering Technique Comes to Hampshire

The closure is needed to install a new dual carriageway underpass beneath the motorway using an innovative time-saving engineering technique being used for the first time in Hampshire. The project employs a sophisticated ‘box slide’ method, where 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. This groundbreaking approach will significantly reduce long-term disruption that would otherwise require many months of lane restrictions and overnight works.

What Hampshire Drivers Need to Know

A signed diversion route will be in place along the A27, which is mostly two lanes in each direction, and is expected to be busy, particularly between 10am and 4pm every day when drivers should be prepared for severe delays. Hampshire County Council is urging residents and visitors to plan their journeys carefully, consider alternative transport options, or travel during quieter times. The £100 million+ scheme is being delivered by Hampshire County Council, working closely with National Highways, and is fully funded by the Buckland Group, the developer of Welborne Garden Village, and by Homes England.

Long-Term Benefits for Hampshire’s Future

The new underpass will connect Fareham with the Welborne Garden Village development, improving access to the M27 and supporting future growth in the area. When complete, this infrastructure upgrade will create a free-flowing, ‘all-moves’ junction that will support the building of up to 6,000 new homes and the creation of thousands of new jobs, stimulating economic growth across Hampshire and the wider region. While the short-term disruption will be significant for Hampshire residents, this ambitious project represents a major investment in the county’s transport infrastructure and economic future.