ONE of the busiest roads in Hampshire has been closed due to a vehicle fire.

The M3 Southbound was closed this morning (Thursday, December 21) after a van caught fire between Junction 11, Winchester, and Junction 12, Chandler’s Ford, in the early hours.

The closure came as many people begin travelling for Christmas and New Year.

Fire crews attended the scene, with a spokesman saying: “More than ten emergency calls were made into the HIWFRS Control Room shortly after 6am reporting a van fire on the M3.

READ MORE: M3 closed between Winchester and Eastleigh due to vehicle fire

“Crews from Winchester, Eastleigh and Redbridge were alerted to the vehicle which was well alight on the southbound carriageway.

“With severe smoke drifting across the road, the carriageway was shut as HIWFRS crews treated the driver of the van for minor injuries with paramedics not required to attend.

“Firefighters in breathing apparatus used hose reels to extinguish the blaze which destroyed the van.

Hampshire Chronicle: The remains of the vanThe remains of the van (Image: National Highways)“The Environment Agency were informed due to a fuel leak, with Highways teams inspecting the scene, checking for damage to the road surface.

“Crews remained to dampen down before beginning to leave the scene following the stop message at 7.25am.”

The southbound road was closed while the condition of the carriageway was assessed.

At 9.04am, National Highways South-East reported that the M3 Southbound had been partially reopened, with one lane closed for recovery and clean-up.

On X, formally known as Twitter, a spokesperson posted: “The #M3 between J11 #Winchester and J12 #Eastleigh is now open. A lane remains closed for recovery and clear-up. There is approx. 3 miles of congestion on the approach to the closure, which adds about 30 minutes to normal journey times”.

Commuters were advised to avoid travelling on the M3 until it could be fully re-opened, with most being diverted off the motorway at Colden Common and Twyford.

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Queues stretched into Winchester city centre and beyond, with 45-minute delays being reported on the A34 Southbound between Three Maids Hill and Winnall as a direct result of the closure.

Meanwhile, National Highways reported that there were three miles of congestion on the M3 Southbound on the approach to the closure.

There were also delays driving into Winchester, with traffic on the one-way system coming to a standstill.

National Highways that the M3 had been fully cleared and reopened at 10.49am.

A spokesperson posted on X: “All lanes are now open on the #M3 westbound between J11 #Winchester and J12 #Eastleigh.

“Thanks for being patient”.