M275 motorway

UK motorway routebox
motorway= M275
length-mi= 2
length-km= 3
direction= North - South
start= Wymering
destinations= None
end= Portsmouth
opening-date= 1976
completion-date= entire motorway
junctions=

The M275 is a two-mile long, dual three-lane motorway in the county of Hampshire, southern England. It is the principal route for entering and leaving Portsmouth. It continues as the A3 into Portsmouth, and meets the M27 at its northern terminus. From the motorway, there are scenic views over Portsmouth harbour, and the Sails of the South between the two carriageways.

The M275 is one of few motorways in England that is not the responsibility of the Highways Agency. It is managed by Portsmouth City Council from the point where the slip roads to the M27 end.

History

The motorway was opened throughout its entire length in 1976. A junction was originally planned for a new development in the Tipner area of Portsmouth, known as the Gateway Project [ [http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/living/3424.html Portsmouth City Council Page] ] , which was shelved at the time. However, the junction's construction was abandoned primarily because planners realised that it would breach regulations that there must be a minimum of 1.25 miles (two kilometres) between motorway junctions. Before construction was halted, significant work had been carried out, including four incomplete slip roads with no road surfacing, two bridges above the site for the main roundabout, and realignment of Tipner Lane so that it served the roundabout. In 2001 the Sails of the South was unveiled close to the site of the missing junction.

Future Plans

In 2005, the Tipner Gateway Project was resurrected along with plans for a junction. As previously, preparatory works have been carried out for the junction. Due to the regulations regarding junction spacing, the speed limit on the main carriageway of the M275 has been reduced to 60 mph, and 50 mph on the slip roads and from the southern end of Mile End Road to the Kingston Crescent Junction. The latter junction is likely to be renamed Junction 3, with the new Tipner Junction becoming Junction 2, and the junction with the M27 being Junction 1/12 (M275 Junction 1, M27 Junction 12). Most of the road signs have been replaced and the M27/M275 interchange has been remodelled to make it easier for drivers, including splitting one lane into two, although this has meant that some of the overhead gantry signs are now redundant. Portsmouth City Council, the body responsible for the M275, intends completion of the junction by 2009. The junction is now proposed for a link to a large park and ride site proposed underneath the junction.

Junctions

See also

*List of motorways in the United Kingdom

References

External links

* [http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/living/8781.html Portsmouth City Council - M275 Tipner Scheme]
* [http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/living/9691.html Portsmouth City Council - M275 Tipner Updates]
* [http://tab-msas.co.uk/photos/m275.shtml TAB - M275 Photo Gallery]
* [http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/m275/ CBRD Motorway Database - M275]
* [http://cbrd.co.uk/indepth/urbanmwaysigns/#bad CBRD - The Ugly]
* [http://www.pathetic.org.uk/current/m275/ Pathetic Motorways - M275]
* [http://www.testit.co.uk/m275.htm Live 24 hour streaming video of M275 traffic]