AFTER a weekend of traffic misery for commuters in Hampshire, the M27 re-opened this morning.
The M27 was closed on Friday night between junction 3 and 4 and re-opened during the early hours of this morning.
The motorway was closed to allow the demolition of Romsey Road bridge, marking the final phase of a £19m scheme to replace it.
The bridge has now been demolished and the rubble has been removed.
Motorists were faced with a 55-mile diversion route while others were diverted through North Baddesley and Chilworth.
All vehicles that were heading westbound on the M27 from Portsmouth to Bournemouth were diverted off at junction 4, up the M3 and the A34, the A303 past Andover, down the A345 into Salisbury and onto the A36 towards the M27 at J2 (Ower).
For those who were heading eastbound, drivers were diverted depending on the type of vehicle.
Traffic of any type on the M27 from the A31 and headed towards M27 east was diverted off at junction 3 up the M271 and A3057 northbound for then joining the A27 eastbound, heading through North Baddesley and Chilworth Roundabout.
HGVs on the M27 from the A31 headed for M3/London were diverted through North Baddesley to Chilworth Roundabout.
The diversions caused traffic misery across the county with long delays in North Baddesley and slow-moving traffic in Southampton.
In North Baddesley, drivers faced 50 minutes delays on Castle Lane heading westbound onto Botley Road.
Traffic was also built-up in most of Romsey with slow moving queues heading both in and out of the town.
Nick Adams-King, deputy leader of Test Valley Borough Council, said: “Traffic didn’t seem as bad on Saturday so I think people have taken the advice.
“[It was] worse on Sunday morning, cars were nose to tail through North Baddesley.
“In the summer when the M27 was closed, local roads around Romsey were pretty jammed but it is better this time and nothing as bad.”
In Southampton, motorists faced delays on a number of roads including Winchester Road, Bassett Avenue, Burgess Road and Hill Lane.
Jacqui Rayment, Cabinet Member for Place and Transport at Southampton City Council, said: “As I am lead to believe, things are running smoothly.
“At this stage, I think everything has gone as smoothly as it can when you cause this much disruption, but for essential works.”
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