Ipley Crossroads revamp work set to start this month, Hampshire County Council confirms

A £450,000 scheme to make the dangerous Ipley Crossroads safer is starting this month amid a raft of ongoing roadworks in the New Forest.

It will involve the installation of a new T-junction by Hampshire County Council to improve the safety of the road by forcing traffic to slow down and give way.

Warning signs carrying “cyclists crossing” will also be put up and road markings changed to complement the new layout.

The work, which was approved by the national park authority, follows the area being highlighted as an accident hotspot, with two fatalities and 11 serious-injury accidents reported between January 2011 and August 2019.

The scheme involved HCC agreeing with the verderers a land-swap elsewhere to ensure the New Forest does not lose any grazing.

The work is expected to take six weeks to complete, HCC said, adding there will be road closures at certain times with advanced warning signs in place.

It coincides with other New Forest roadworks including replacing the Holmsley bridge on the A35, strengthening the A31 Redbridge causeway, and expanding junctions on the southern end of the A326 on the Waterside.

On Monday 12 weeks of work started at Holbury roundabout as part of the A326 project, prompting warnings for drivers to leave extra time to make up for delays.

There is a temporary road closure of Long Copse from its junction with Holbury roundabout to its junction with Wentworth Grove. Access to properties within the closure will be maintained.

There are also temporary traffic lights on the A326 Long Lane and B3053 Fawley Road arms of Holbury roundabout.

Cllr Rob Humby, HCC cabinet member for economy, transport and environment, said: “I am pleased that these important improvements to the A326 are now being implemented.

“During the works we will be doing all we can to minimise the disruption to the travelling public, but some additional delays should be expected. This is why I would encourage people to plan their journeys in advance and to leave extra time.He added: “Improving the A326 is a priority for the county council, and we are also working on proposals for major improvements to the northern end of the route.“However, any improvement to the northern A326 is likely to involve major upgrade works for the road, public transport, and walking and cycling provision, and will need the support of significant Government funding.”