Hampshire County Council update on Botley bypass as work stalls

The Botley bypass was originally set to be opened in 2025, but with clearance work for the third phase of the project yet to start, delayed from autumn 2023, the project seems to have stalled.

The council has said that the £32m bypass will make life far more peaceful for Botley residents who are currently subject to increased traffic.

Drivers travelling between Hedge End and Wickham currently have to drive through Botley – which gets particularly congested during rush hour.

Contractor Volker Fitzpatrick started construction of phase one in January 2021, and phase two in January 2022.

The work in these phases include the widening of Woodhouse Lane, a shared pedestrian and cycleway, a new underpass, and a new roundabout and link road between Woodhouse Lane and Winchester Street.

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Construction of the first two phases of the bypass has been undertaken on Woodhouse Lane, next to the recently opened Deer Park School.

In February 2023, the council said that construction of phase three was expected to commence in spring 2024 for an estimated duration of two years.

The authority has previously stated that the goals of the scheme include reducing traffic, improving air quality, cutting down on noise and improving the Botley village centre environment.

The bypass will stop congestion through Botley (Image: Hampshire County Council)Hampshire County Council has now issued an update on phase three of the Botley bypass, stating that it is currently agreeing a price with the contractor – which is expected to be finalised this summer.

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “Milestone Infrastructure has been awarded the contract to design the main section of the bypass.

“The design work is ongoing and progression into construction will be subject to the Council’s agreement of the contract price and an assessment of affordability, which is expected during the summer.”