A MAJOR route into Romsey was set to close today.

The A27 in Romsey will be shut until June 5 between the Ashfield roundabout and Southampton Road roundabout for work on a new rail bridge at Ashfield.

Network Rail is raising the height of rail bridges over the tracks in the Romsey area as part of a £60m project to upgrade freight routes out of Southampton docks.

Drivers who use the A3057 between Southampton and Romsey will be diverted along the M27 to the Ower roundabout and on to Romsey using the A3090. Motorists not allowed to use the motorway will be sent along the A36 out of Southampton to Totton and then up to Ower.

Southampton motorists can still reach Romsey via the A27 through Chilworth and North Baddesley. Routes in from the north of the town will be unaffected.