BALFOUR Beatty has announced that the M3 Southbound will be closed at Junction 9 tonight while work takes place.

The work is part of the M3 Junction 9 improvement scheme.

Balfour Beatty has started early work on the scheme by removing vegetation from the junction.

The planned closure of the M3 Southbound at Junction 9The planned closure of the M3 Southbound at Junction 9 (Image: Balfour Beatty) READ MORE: Work to begin next month ahead of £200 million M3 junction works

The road is being temporarily closed between the Junction 9 southbound slip roads so the contractors can remove the temporary traffic lights which were in place while the early work was completed.

The closure will start at 9pm tonight, Friday, November 1, and will end by 6am on Saturday, November 2.

A diversion route is in effect, with motorists asked to exit the M3 at junction 9 southbound and re-enter the M3 at junction 9 to continue southbound.

A Balfour Beatty spokesperson said that the diversion route has been designed to suit all vehicles, saying: “We advise you not to use a Satnav when following any of our diversions because there is a risk it could direct you down an unsuitable road or back onto our network when it is closed.”