Hampshire County Council confirms mid-September phased opening for M27 J10 improvement scheme

From Monday 14 September 2026, the upgraded ‘all moves’ junction 10 will open ahead of schedule in phases, starting with the new westbound off-slip, the motorway underpass and four new roundabouts. The new eastbound on-slip and westbound on-slip are expected to open in autumn 2026. 

Once fully open, the upgraded junction will provide full access to and from the M27 in both directions. Drivers travelling to and from Fareham, Wickham, Whiteley, Southampton, Portsmouth and beyond will benefit from new direct connections via the A3222 link road. Approximately 30,000 vehicles are expected to use the new all-movements junction each day once it opens. At present, the current M27 Junction 10 has restricted access, only allowing partial movements for traffic travelling in a westbound off and eastbound on direction. 

Originally due to open to traffic in winter 2026, the £100m+ scheme will become operational ahead of this timescale, thanks to an accelerated delivery programme, reflecting strong progress throughout the construction phase.

Temporary speed limits and lane restrictions will remain on the M27 between Junctions 9 and 11 while final safety checks including technology testing take place – this is expected to stay in place until winter 2026. In addition, the new dual carriageway (A32/A3222 link road) through the underpass will initially operate with a single lane in one direction (north bound), providing a new route for traffic travelling towards Fareham, Wickham and the surrounding local road network. This arrangement will allow the remaining works, including landscaping and footway completion, to be carried out safely. 

Councillor Steve Forster, Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “We are delighted to be able to confirm the phased opening of the M27 Junction 10 improvement scheme. The new junction and link roads will improve journeys to and from the motorway network in the short term and support the growth of Welborne Garden Village in the years ahead. It’s a great example of how investment in the right infrastructure can enable sustainable growth, supporting the delivery of thousands of new homes, schools, community facilities and employment opportunities. 

“While the scheme will be operational ahead of schedule, essential safety testing and final works will continue for several months. This means that some lane restrictions and speed limits on a short section of the M27 and connecting roads will need to remain in place. We would like to thank road users and local communities for their continued patience and understanding while this work is completed.”

Andrew Jackson, National Highways Programme Manager, said: “This important scheme will stimulate economic growth across the region by supporting the building of 6,000 new homes and the creation of thousands of new jobs. The National Highways team has worked particularly closely with Hampshire County Council over the last two years and are delighted that local communities will soon benefit from smoother, safer journeys as a result of these improvements.”

Mark Thistlethwayte, Chairman of Buckland Group, said: “The opening of Junction 10 is a milestone moment for Welborne Garden Village and the M27 corridor. Buckland Group and Homes England's funding of the upgrade to this crucial piece of infrastructure unlocked our plans to deliver 6,000 new homes, the forthcoming Welborne Commercial Park as well as broader economic connectivity and growth. We're grateful to Hampshire County Council, National Highways and Volker Fitzpatrick for bringing this project to its completion. Junction 10 will serve residents, businesses and communities for generations to come.”

Pauline Schaffer, Director of Infrastructure Funding at Homes England, said: “The M27 Junction 10 Scheme has been a great example of public and private sectors collaborating to deliver a transformative development that will unlock up to 6,000 homes as well as bringing community infrastructure and employment opportunities to the Fareham area.”

Adrian Mawdsley, Project Director, VolkerFitzpatrick, said: “Delivering the new M27 Junction 10 has been a truly collaborative achievement. Working closely with Hampshire County Council, National Highways, Buckland and Homes England, we’ve brought forward a piece of infrastructure that will improve journeys immediately and enable the long term success of Welborne Garden Village. We’re proud to have delivered this milestone ahead of schedule for the communities it will serve.”

A key feature of the scheme is the new motorway underpass, which was installed over the Christmas period using an innovative engineering technique known as a ‘box slide’. During the operation, a 60-metre-long pre-constructed concrete structure was moved 65 metres into position beneath the M27 before the motorway surface was reinstated. The complex operation was completed ahead of schedule, enabling the full closure of the M27 to be lifted a day earlier than planned. By carrying out this key element of the works in a single operation, the project team significantly reduced the amount of traffic management and short-term closures required during construction.
The improvement scheme is being delivered by Hampshire County Council with support from National Highways. Funding has been provided by the Buckland Group, developer of Welborne Garden Village, and Homes England.

The new junction is a critical piece of infrastructure supporting the delivery of Welborne Garden Village, where up to 6,000 homes, alongside schools, community facilities and employment space, are planned. Under the planning conditions for the development, no more than 1,160 homes can be occupied until the new all-movements Junction 10 is operational.

Alongside benefits for motorists, the scheme will provide a new shared footway and cycleway connecting Fareham Common to the south with Welborne Garden Village to the north, creating new opportunities for walking, wheeling and cycling between the two communities. 

The planned opening on September 14 will be subject to the completion of critical work scheduled for the weekend of Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September to connect the new road layout to the current. Contingency is in place for the following weekend. To facilitate these works, overnight road closures will be in place ahead of and during the weekend works. Please check the scheme webpage for the latest closure details and travel information: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/M27-junction-10