HL Deb 02 March 1976 vol 368 c1000WA
The Earl of SELKIRK

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any conclusion has been reached on the line extending the M3 by-passing Winchester and connecting with the M27 by-passing Southampton.

Baroness BIRK

The line of the M3 motorway from its present termination at Popham through to Compton, bypassing Winchester, was fixed in 1973 after a public inquiry. Following a request last year from Winchester City Council for a complete review of the scheme, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment reconsidered alternative strategies to the East and West of Winchester and the possible improvement of the existing route. He concluded that the route fixed in 1973 would bring the greatest economic and environmental benefit and that a further detailed review was unnecessary. Preparatory work on this section is now proceeding as quickly as possible. Revised proposals for the side roads and interchanges will be published shortly. Subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and to the availability of funds, it is hoped to complete this section in 1980. A firm date for the upgrading to motorway standards of the existing Otterbourne and Chandlers Ford by-pass (A33) from Compton to a connection with the M27 at Bassett has not yet been fixed.