A STRIP of the M27 will be closed across 24 hours this weekend to make way for bridge demolition work.

The motorway will be shut between Junction 9 and 11 in both directions to allow Highways England workers to demolish the North Fareham Footbridge.

Closures will last between 9pm on Friday, June 14, and 9pm on Saturday, June 15.

Highways England said: "The demolition is taking place overnight, as we need to demolish the footbridge as quickly, and safely as possible.

"There is less traffic at night, which allows us to close the motorway with reduced impact for the travelling public, and we need to work through the night in order to allow us to re-open the motorway, as soon as the demolition is complete."

The bridge is being knocked down as part of a series of improvements being carried out on the M27 between junction 4 and 11 to turn it into a smart motorway.

A smart motorway uses the hard shoulder and the bridge, as it is at the moment, does not give enough clearance on that lane.

A new footbridge will be installed at a later date.