Gridlock study delayed for up to four years

Civic chiefs and transport experts are worried that

proposals to reduce problems at junction nine are being held up.

That is despite worsening queues at the interchange where the M3 meets the A33 and A34 on the edge of Winchester.

The AA said the junction has the potential to become as bad as the notorious Hockley traffic lights that blighted journeys around Winchester before the M3 was completed in 1994.

The Highways Agency proposed a scheme to improve traffic flow but has just announced that it only plans to complete its study by 2009.

Paul Watters, head of roads and transport policy at the AA, said recent improvement at Chievely near Newbury would increase the pressure at Winnall.

Mr Watters said: "It is bad enough now and with the increase in traffic it is only going to get worse. It is frightening how long away 2009 is."

He added: "It will be years and years before anything is done. The queues are already beginning to become like Hockley.

"The problem is that there is a mix of trunk road traffic like heavy lorries and local traffic. That is not a good mix."

He said extra capacity may be created on the roundabout by installing traffic lights at the end of Easton Lane on to the roundabout.

Councillor Richard Knasel, portfolio holder for transport on the city council, said it was unacceptable to delay producing a study by 2009.

Cllr Knasel said: "Junction nine is not good for the economy of the city. We are very keen to press the government to improve it. To wait four years for a study is unacceptable. At holidays and when there is an accident it becomes a nightmare. We need that junction to be improved."

To keep national and local traffic apart would involve a similar scheme to the recently completed one at Chieveley, where the A34 was routed past the M4 in a £40m underpass.

A Highways Agency spokesman said other schemes had a higher priority. "We are aware it is important but it does not carry the same amount of traffic as the Chieveley junction."