A new junction costing a huge £290million could make a major difference to a busy UK motorway. Hampshire’s busiest motorway interchange has made progress after contractors lifted two 48 metre steel bridge beams into place. The work took place during planned weekend closures on the M3.

The M3 Junction 9 improvement scheme aims to relieve chronic congestion at the junction where the M3 meets the A34 near Winchester. Teams installed the northern and southern gyratory bridge beams in February, marking a significant moment in construction. Principal contractor VolkerFitzpatrick is working with Balfour Beatty as VFBB for National Highways.

It used a 750-tonne crane to place the two roughly 100-tonne beams on new abutments as part of the realigned junction structure.

The beams will form the decks of two new bridges needed for a redesign that replaces the existing signal‑controlled, single large roundabout with a “dumbbell” layout.

This will include two smaller, linked roundabouts connected by bridges to allow free‑flow movement.

The change should reduce the need for traffic to stop and so will ease delays at peak times; the junction currently handles more than 6,000 vehicles an hour in the busiest periods.

It took contractors two weekends to complete the work, which was described as challenging.

The upgrades are being funded by the central Government.

The work will widen the M3 to four lanes through the junction, create free‑flow links between the M3 and A34, and include facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

The move will support local development and regional freight movement, according to National Highways and VFBB, reports New Civil Engineer.

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Deon Scholtz, VolkerFitzpatrick divisional director, infrastructure, said: “The successful installation of the new gyratory bridge beams marks a major milestone for the project and is a testament to the exceptional planning, engineering expertise and teamwork across VFBB.

“Completing two complex lifts in such a short timeframe, and under full motorway closures, required absolute precision and seamless collaboration.

“I’m incredibly proud of everyone involved. This achievement brings us another step closer to delivering a junction that will significantly improve journeys, strengthen the regional network, and provide long‑lasting benefits for road users and local communities.”

Completion is expected in summer 2028.