MULTI-million pound improvements to a motorway bottleneck in Hampshire are to move a step closer in the new year with briefings on the proposals.

Highways England wants to carry out a major upgrade to the M3 junction 9 at Winnall where the M3 joins the A34 and A272 and has developed a scheme estimated to cost around £100m.

It aims to improve traffic flow, journey times and safety, as well as boost local economic growth and minimise the impact on the environment. The plan was delayed by Highways bosses to avoid a clash with other schemes it is running. It was originally due to start in March 2020 but was pushed back to mid-2021.

Now, local businesses are invited to a briefing on January 25, at the Mercure Hotel, Paternoster Row in Winchester from 8am to 11am, to share what they think about the scheme, with Highways England representatives on hand to answer questions. There will also be a series of public information events.

Mark Baulch at Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said delays at the bottleneck have an economic effect on the area.He added: “The junction of the M3 and A34 is of massive strategic importance and delays here have an economic impact across not only Winchester and the district, but across a whole sub-region of the UK and even worldwide. A vehicle being delayed here can affect exports in one direction, and vital ‘just-in-time’ components for assembly lines in the other. The Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and its members look forward to the opportunity to discuss this with Highways England in the early part of the New Year.”

The business briefing will take place .

The public events are on January 27 at Winchester Guildhall from 10.30am to 4.30pm, January 31 from 2pm to 8pm, February 10 at Winnall Community Centre from 10.30am to 4.30pm, February 16 at Kings Worthy Community Centre from 2pm to 8pm and again the next day from 10.30pm to 4.30pm.