M3 Junction 9 Scheme: location of construction compound revealed

As previously reported, it was believed that the Balfour Beatty compound, on Badger Farm Road, would be used for the scheme.

However, Balfour Beatty confirmed that the site is instead being decommissioned and turned back into farmland.

A National Highways spokesperson said that the contractor compound for the Junction 9 scheme would instead be located on land east of the existing Junction 9 gyratory.

The location of the M3 Junction 9 compound (in green). It was reduced from the orange zone to reduce the impact of construction (Image: National Highways)

The spokesperson said: “The compound was reduced in size during the examination from the orange area to the green area to reduce the impact of construction.

READ MORE: Balfour Beatty Winchester site to be restored to farmland

“Badger Farm was not selected as it is too far from the Junction 9 construction works. 

“Setting up the compound at Badger Farm would have been inefficient due to having to transport plant and materials up the motorway every day.”

The M3 Junction 9 improvement scheme will see National Highways modify the junction between the M3 and A34 so it has free-flowing links in both directions.

The junction will be widened and two new bridges built on the gyratory, allowing the M3 to increase from 3 lanes to 4 as it passes through the junction. National Highways will also extend the southbound slip onto the M3 so traffic has more time to join the motorway and improve the safety of the junction with signs and gantries.

The lead contractor for the scheme is Volker Fitzpatrick.

More information about the scheme can be found on the National Highways M3 Improvement Scheme website.