Motorists face more delays as £25m A35 Redbridge Causeway project brings lane closures

MOTORISTS face weeks of delays on the link between the New Forest and Southampton as the £25m repair project on the A35 Redbridge Causeway continues.

Lane closures have resulted in drivers suffering mile-long rush-hour tailbacks reaching from the bridge into Colbury.

Alongside the Hampshire County Council work, SGN is replacing the gas main, which will require open excavations to remove sections of the old, abandoned main and install new apparatus.

As a result, the left-hand lane of the eastbound A35 carriageway is now closed from the approach to the Totton on-slip to the start of the off-slip to the M271 Redbridge roundabout until 8pm on bank holiday Monday 30th August.

The Totton on-slip will be narrowed and shortened to merge with the single lane of east-bound A35 traffic in the right-hand lane, with a temporary 30mph speed limit.

Meanwhile, the A35 eastbound off-slip to the M271 Redbridge roundabout will be fully closed from 8pm Friday 20th August until Tuesday 31st August. There will be a signed diversion via the Millbrook roundabout and the westbound A35 carriageway.

HCC said the work would go on for extended hours – 6.30am-8pm – including weekends. The traffic management measures will remain in place outside working hours for safety reasons and bus times could be affected.

Cllr Rob Humby, HCC deputy leader, said: "The traffic management arrangements that have been put in place will enable the work to be carried out safely while keeping to an absolute minimum the inconvenience to pedestrians, cyclists and other road users."