A LORRY has overturned and blocked one of Hampshire's busiest commuter routes.

Emergency services say the vehicle is currently on its side after an incident on the A34 southbound this morning.

Road now re-opened - click here: Overturned lorry causes NINE hour closure on the A34 near to M3.

The A34 southbound from Bullington Cross to junction nine at Winchester is closed, while drivers joining the road from the A33 are also facing delays.

The driver has since been freed from the vehicle by firefighters and taken to University Hospital Southampton with minor injuries.

Highways England have advised motorists that diversions have been set up but to avoid the area.

Drivers are currently facing delays of more than an hour.

Daily Echo:

(A traffic map of the area posted by ROMANSE at 8am today)

A tweet from Highways England said: "UPDATE: The #A34 is now closed southbound between the #A303 and #M3 / #A272 due to a HGV that has overturned and shed its load nr #Winchester. Emergency services are at scene."

Firefighters from Southampton, Eastleigh and Winchester all attended the incident, which involved what police say is a 44-ton articulated lorry.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue say the driver was extricated and handed over to paramedics.

A spokesperson for South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) confirmed that the male driver suffered minor injuries in the crash.

The spokesperson said: "We were called by Hampshire Police control at 05.57 informing us of an HGV having rolled on to its side on the A34 southbound, blocking the carriageway with the driver reported as being trapped in the cab.

"We sent a paramedic team leader in a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance and our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) to the scene. The driver, once safely released from the vehicle, was taken to University Hospital Southampton with minor injuries."

The junction is one of the busiest in the region.

Yesterday Highways England unveiled £100m plans to ease congestion there.

Under the scheme the junction will be redesigned to create dedicated free flow lanes, allowing drivers travelling between the M3 and the A34 to avoid using the junction roundabout.

The roundabout itself would be redesigned into a ‘dumbbell’ layout to reduce congestion and improve safety, while improved pedestrian and cycling routes will complete the gap in the national cycling network.

The work is set to be completed by 2023.

For the full story see here.