A SCHEME to improve a major Hampshire motorway has been given a cash boost to provide walking and cycling facilities.

County bosses have agreed £898,000 extra investment to create a cycleway and footway on the western side of Whiteley Way between junction 9 of the M27 and Parkway South roundabout.

Controlled crossings will be in place at each junction to provide safe access and connections to existing pedestrian and cycle routes on Whiteley Way, Rookery Avenue and within the Segensworth Business Park.

The news comes as plans to improve junction 9 of the M27 and Parkway South roundabout were given the go-ahead earlier this year.

Following the latest cash boost, the scheme will now cost a total of £23.128 million.

The scheme is being developed by HCC.

The extra investment was agreed by councillor Rob Humby, executive member for environment and transport at Hampshire County Council (HCC).

He said: “The M27 is a critical, strategic corridor in southern Hampshire which helps to keep the economy moving, but at peak times queues caused by congestion at junction 9 can extend back several kilometres along the motorway. The project is essential to improve traffic flow and journey times in the area. I’m delighted that we’ve secured extra funding through Highways England, to enable us to build the improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.”

As part of the project the existing short left-turn lane on Whiteley Way will also be lengthened and additional lanes will be provided on the northern and southern sections of the roundabout. A new larger fully signal-controlled roundabout will be provided at Parkway South roundabout, with additional lanes on all approaches, on the Parkway exit road and on the roundabout itself.

HCC said work is due to start this autumn for approximately 24 months.

Money for the scheme will come from Highways England Growth and Housing Fund, Highways England Congestion Relief Fund, Highways England Designated Cycle Fund, Local Transport Plan funding and developer contributions.

HCC said the existing levels of congestion and the development of 3,500 extra homes in the north of Whiteley mean that the scheme is much needed.