TWO of Britain’s busiest motorways will be shut this weekend for “vital” repair work – causing mayhem for thousands.
The M3 and M6 will close for maintenance and upgrades, disrupting thousands of journeys.
National Highways plans to close the M3 overnight on Sunday, from 9pm to 6am on Monday, between junction 6, Black Dam, and junction 7 for Dummer, to allow engineers to complete electrical works for a sign.
Project manager Edgar Vila Pouca thanked motorists “for their patience”; and said a signed diversion would be implemented through the M3 junction 5 Spur Road, A30 Ringway and A30 Winchester Road.
However, he warned there may be congestion, especially “with nice weather forecast”; and the start of the “Easter school break.”;
He added: “I would urge anyone planning on travelling to allow extra time to complete their journey.
Likewise, on the M6, the northbound carriageway will be closed overnight between junctions 39 and 40 from 10pm to 6am on Saturday and Sunday.
From Monday, April 7, the northbound route will reopen with two lanes and a 40mph speed limit.
The southbound lane will be closed between the same junctions overnight the following weekend on Saturday, 12 and Sunday 13 between 10pm and 6am.
It will reopen at a reduced capacity of two lanes and a 40mph speed limit from Monday, 14.
A diversion will operate using the parallel A6 during both closures.
The works are part of a £9 million overhaul of the bridge, which supports the thoroughfare over the River Lowther in Cumbria.
It will allow vital concrete repairs to the superstructure and substructure of the massive structure.
Also, in Sussex, main roads A23 and A27 will be subject to overnight closures this weekend.
This evening, the exit slip road on the A23 northbound near Hickstead and the Crossbush to Hammerpot carriageway will close between 8pm and 6am tomorrow.
On Saturday, the A27 will close once again from junction A270 to Patcham and the Falmer slip entry will be shut from 8pm to 6am the following morning.
The Saturday A27 closures will repeat at the same times on Sunday.
