What the M27 crash scene looks like after emergency repairs

Motorists in Southampton and the south of Hampshire experienced traffic chaos yesterday.

The westbound carriageway between junctions 5 and 9 was closed for more than 35 hours due to the tragic crash on Wednesday lunchtime.

By midnight last night, the stretch of road was reopened after an overhead gantry was damaged when an HGV lorry veered off the westbound carriageway and smashed into a large metal sign near Southampton Airport – causing the death of the driver, a man in his 30s.

Hours later the lorry burst into flames causing heavy damage to the sign.

Technicians were at the scene all of Thursday to remove the damaged gantry and by midnight, the motorway was reopened.

M27 reopened after the crash on Wednesday (Image: NQ)READ MORE:  The day the M27 stood still - as it unfolded

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Pictures this morning show the spot where the sign was removed and new metal barriers were installed after the horror crash.

The small area where the lorry had been was also cordoned off and some damaged fencing can be seen on the edge of the road.

M27 reopened after the crash on Wednesday (Image: NQ)

Police say the crash involved a Mercedes lorry, a Nissan Juke and a Volkswagen Polo and happened just after 12.30pm on Wednesday.

Despite paramedics' best efforts, the lorry driver - a man in his 30’s - was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Hampshire police said that the man’s family have been notified and are being supported by specially trained officers.

A 32-year-old man, a 37-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman, all of no fixed abode, were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

They were taken to hospital and were still being questioned by officers as of yesterday afternoon.