TRANSPORT bosses will be challenged to create a new link road to alleviate congestion in Hampshire.

Eastleigh Borough Council backed a call by member Paul Bicknell, who wants Hampshire County Council to investigate the possibility of a new road connecting Leigh Road in the town to the M27.

He believes a variety of traffic measures would reduce traffic going through the town and improve air quality in the area.

Cllr Bicknell said: “The link road would help massively, improving the air quality where numerous residents have their lives blighted by poor air quality.

“It should be built for the improvements it would make to the lives of those who are affected by traffic congestion.”

Drivers currently have to join the M27 eastbound from junction five near Southampton airport, whereas they can join both the M3 northbound and southbound at Leigh Road, which also leads to the M27 westbound towards Southampton and Bournemouth.

A number of councillors spoke strongly in favour of the proposals, citing the frequently gridlocked roads as evidence that improvement to the area’s infrastructure is needed.

At the meeting at the Ageas Bowl, Cllr David Airey said: “The amount of housing that we are having to accommodate means that we need to improve the infrastructure because otherwise it’s going to get worse with congestion.

“We can’t have the standstill that you get at certain times of day.”