SMART motorway plans for the M3 between Winchester and the M27 have been scrapped by the government. 

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has announced that plans for smart motorways, including between junctions 9 and 14 of the M3, have been thrown out. 

The decision comes after the government paused the expansion of motorways where the hard shoulder is used as a permanent live traffic lane in January 2022.

In total, fourteen planned schemes will be axed which is said to be due to financial pressures and in recognition of the lack of public trust.

READ MORE: Rishi Sunak bans new smart motorways

But though new smart motorways have been stopped, existing ones such as on the M3 between Junctions 2 and 4a and on the M27 between Junctions 11 and 4 are set to remain. 

The remaining stretches are now set to be subjected to a safety refit so there are 150 more emergency stopping places across the network.

The Prime Minister said: “All drivers deserve to have confidence in the roads they use to get around the country."