WORK is due to start next month to prepare the M27 to be made quieter after years of residents complaints.

As part of the next phase of £50m works to resurface the concrete section of the road between J5-7, repairs will begin to be carried out in January.

This is in order to repair the concrete in preparation for it being covered over by low-noise asphalt which National Highways says is aimed at “ensuring a smoother ride for drivers and reducing noise for nearby residents”.

Despite this though, National Highways says that because the concrete needs repairing, actual resurfacing works won’t begin until Spring 2023.

The news comes after residents in West End complained for years that the road was too loud.

Now these residents are set to be issued with letters in order to set out the details of the project which is part of a £400m programme to fix concrete roads across the country.

Daily Echo: Paul Holmes MP.Paul Holmes MP.

Eastleigh MP, Paul Holmes told the Echo that the resurfacing was a “top priority” for him since he was elected, adding “it is brilliant to see this important taking shape”.

“This scheme represents a £50m investment in our local area that will provide a much quieter road surface for residents and ensure that the road surface will be fit for purpose for decades to come.”

This comes after bosses at Eastleigh Borough Council had previously criticised the government for not getting the work done sooner, adding that funding had been gained for the project by then MP, Mike Thornton in 2014.

Despite this though, National Highways project manager, Kat Saradinova, said the government agency is “committed to overlaying the concrete section of the M27”.

The project manager added however: “When the scheme was originally scoped, it was seen as simple overlay of the existing concrete with a low noise surface.

“However, this wasn’t a long term solution and would have meant that we would have to come back in few years to replace the base concrete layer.

“As part of our National Concrete Roads Programme, we have now decided to look into a more long term, robust and sustainable solution which will protect the concrete layer for up to 40 years significantly reducing the need for intrusive regular resurfacing or wholescale reconstruction of the road.

“I understand people living near to and travelling on this section of the M27 will be disappointed, and I ask them to bear with us while we work on designing updated plans.”