Major upgrades are set to take place to Southampton’s Northam bridge and the A326 Marchwood Bypass corridor after funding was approved.
Plans to replace Southampton’s failing Northam Rail Bridge with a widened bridge and improve the A326 Marchwood Bypass corridor were approved in Parliament on Thursday, March 26.
Plans to develop the M27 Junction 3 and improve access to the Port of Southampton have also been progressed to be explored as part of the next Road Investment Strategy.
Schemes in the south of England have been given the green light under the Department for Transport’s third Road Investment Strategy.
Satvir Kaur, MP for Southampton Test, said: “Everyone should welcome this additional government investment in Southampton roads, announced today.
“This much needed funding helps us deliver two key projects that I’ve been working on for years, first as Council Leader and now as a Member of Parliament.
“All of us have heard the concerns around Northam Rail Bridge being on the brink if something isn’t done to fix it.
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“This investment not only enables us to continue to use the bridge, but ensures we can regenerate the area around St Mary’s Football Club to make it more attractive and welcoming.”
Satvir Kaur also highlighted the importance of improvements to the A326.
She said: “The additional funding for the A326 is also very welcome. It helps deliver on existing plans to expand the port and redirect some port traffic that currently comes through our city. Good news for the port and local residents.”
Darren Paffey, MP for Southampton Itchen, said: “This is a transformative investment for road users in Southampton and its importance, just a short distance from the UK’s busiest export port, cannot be understated.
“Replacing the century-old and deteriorating existing Northam Rail bridge with a new widened replacement will help address the bottlenecks on a key road corridor that are all-too-familiar to drivers and passengers in the city.”
Councillor Alex Winning, leader of Southampton City Council, also welcomed the announcement.
He said: “This is fantastic news for Southampton and the wider South Hampshire area.
“A new, widened Northam Rail Bridge on the A3024 and major upgrades to the A326 Waterside corridor will strengthen two of our most important routes, making everyday journeys safer, smoother and more reliable.”