HAMPSHIRE drivers already suffering snarl-ups across the county are to face an even worse nightmare - massive roadworks on the M27.

The Daily Echo has learned that the work at the M27 and its M3 interchange will overlap with the major motoring misery suffered on the A31 trunk road.

And the new £5.1 million scheme, starting a week on Monday, will involve reducing lanes on the motorway, road closures and major disruption right into the new millennium.

Last night the agencies involved were hammering out details of what Southampton traffic management officer Pc Tim Goodman described as "extremely complex".

The new "cone zone" involves three miles of the M27 through junctions four and five, and 1.5 miles of the M3-M27 Chilworth link roads - routes carrying an annual average of more than 100,000 vehicles a day - and that's based on 1998 figures.

Two lanes will remain open during peak periods (6-9.30am and 4-8pm), but carriageways will be reduced off-peak and there will be some overnight closures with diversions planned.

Night drivers will be affected from day one, with overnight closures of the M3 links meaning diversions via Junction 5 next to Southampton airport, as preparatory works begin.

Any hint of a hold-up is guaranteed to see heavy traffic spill into residential areas as drivers seek out rat-runs.

Highways Agency project manager Angela Simmons apologised for the "disruption" and "inconvenience", but said: "This major maintenance project will bring improved surfacing and clearer signing to the travelling public at the M27/M23 merge/diverge." One feature will be new lane markings to deter drivers from "swooping" across lanes at the last moment.

But for long-distance commuters and business drivers using the A31 - the South Coast trunk road from the western end of the M27 - the worse news is that the two roadworks schemes will overlap by a month.

Repairing and resurfacing the blacktop, and maintenance on drainage, safety fencing, signs and road markings, are scheduled to be completed after 15 weeks, by next February, with a long break through the festive season from December 17 to January 10.

Rebecca Rees of the AA said: "Huge amounts of traffic are going to be disrupted by this, yet more roadworks following on from those on the A31 and in the same regional network as the A34 Newbury bypass.

"It will lead to improvements but drivers are going to suffer."

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