Southampton traffic: Motorists facing long queues and disruption due to M27 closure

Motorists in Southampton are facing long queues this afternoon due to a closure on the M27.

Traffic has built on key routes across the city, leading to delays and disruption.

Queues of up to an hour have been reported on some routes, which is affecting local and longer distance bus services.

The closure on the M27 is expected to remain in place for several hours, which will further affect local roads.

Main roads into the city are particularly affected, with 25 minutes of delays on Bassett Avenue as drivers leave the M3 at Junction 14.

Motorists trying to head north towards Romsey on the A27 can expect delays of 60 minutes.

There's 43 minutes of delays for drivers on Redbridge Road and Millbrook Road West, as local traffic meets the M271.

Traffic does ease somewhat one motorists make it over the Redbridge Causeway, but there is further disruption on roads towards Cadnam and the M27 itself.

Drivers can expect 40 minutes of queues on the A35 in Shirley according to Traffic Monitoring Service, TomTom. This is on top of delays approaching the M271.

Smaller delays of 5-10 minutes have been reported on Shirley Road, The Avenue and New Road.

The majority of routes in the city, both major and local, had delays of at least a few minutes as of 1615.

Bluestar Buses, which run the majority of services in Southampton, says all its routes are experiencing delays and disruption.

In a statement it said: "Due to M27 lane closure & accident outbound near Red Bridge roundabout we are seeing significant delays on all services due to rerouted traffic. Please use our Bluestar App to track your bus. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time."

Services on other operators have also been affected, with Stagecoach South warning of delays on some its routes across South Hampshire.

UniLink said it too was affected, and warned of delays to bus services. It said: "The U1C, U2B, U2C, U2, U6C, U6H & U9 are heavily delayed because of congestion on the avenue. This is due to the M27 lane closure. Delays are at present approx 40 mins. Please use the Bluestar App to track your bus."

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