The M27 between Junctions 9 and 11 reopened a full 24 hours ahead of schedule at 4am on Saturday 3 January - an extraordinary achievement after one of the most complex engineering operations Hampshire has ever delivered.
During the ten day motorway closure, around 130 people worked day and night through the Christmas period, contributing a combined 10,000 hours to install a brand‑new underpass at Junction 10 using an innovative “box slide” technique. A 60‑metre concrete structure, weighing 8,500 tonnes was slid 65 metres into place with millimetre precision, avoiding months of lane closures and disruption. The team worked continuously, day and night, from Christmas Eve until 3 January to complete this major operation safely and efficiently. Watch the timelapse of the box being slid into place.
This phase of work marked a major milestone toward the new, free‑flowing, all‑moves Junction 10, which will support the Welborne Garden Village development and strengthen Hampshire’s infrastructure for years to come.
See images, drone footage, video clips and key facts.
Lane restrictions and a 50mph speed limit will remain in place. These safety measures are there to protect both drivers and the crews completing the remaining work.