Highway’s chiefs are advising drivers travelling on the M3 in Hampshire to plan ahead as a series of overnight lane closures will be in place from this weekend.

The closures, which will be in place between junctions 2 (M25 interchange) and 4a (for Fleet), are to allow National Highways essential maintenance work on the drainage system and the replacement of manhole covers in lanes one and two of the northbound all-lane running section of the M3.

Contractors will also be utilising the lane closures to safely plant trees along the verges of the stretch of motorway, carry out litter picking activities and to clean the emergency areas.

To carry out the work safely, sections of lanes 1, 2, and 3 on the northbound M3 will be closed at night for up to three weeks starting on Sunday March 13. 

The overnight lane closures will be in place from 9pm to 6am. One lane will remain open to traffic at night until 5am. 

In addition, lane 1 will be kept closed during the day, to allow excavations and infill material to cure. This closure will start from junction 4a.

Access to all junctions on the northbound M3 will remain open and the lane closure will be removed once all work is completed.

To install and amend the traffic management, there will be occasional overnight closures of the entry slip roads at junctions 4 and 3.

Signed diversions will be in place using the adjacent M3 slip roads.

The road will only be closed for short stretches of the northbound carriageway at any time – the lane closures will not be in place for the entire stretch between junctions 4a and 2.

Delays are expected due to the lane closures, meaning road users are advised to allow additional time for their journeys.

Highway chiefs have said the work is subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.

People wishing to find out more can visit the website https://highwaysengland.co.uk/se-maintenance or the regional Twitter feed: @HighwaysSEAST