Motorists making Christmas Eve getaways across southern England faced a double blow today as a planned full closure of the M27 motorway coincided with a serious crash that shut the M2 westbound in Kent, triggering long tailbacks and forcing thousands of drivers onto diversion routes at one of the busiest times of the year.

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M27 Shuts in Both Directions for 10-Day Engineering Operation

The M27, a key east west corridor along England’s south coast, closed completely in both directions between Junction 9 at Whiteley and Junction 11 at Fareham from 20:00 on Wednesday 24 December, as engineers began a complex 10-day operation to slide a giant pre-built underpass into place beneath the carriageway.

The shutdown, scheduled to last until 04:00 on Sunday 4 January 2026, is part of the M27 Junction 10 improvement scheme near Fareham, designed to create an all-moves junction and unlock plans for thousands of new homes and jobs in the Welborne Garden Village development.

Hampshire County Council and National Highways say the closure allows them to complete in days work that would otherwise have required months of overnight lane restrictions and reduced speed limits across the motorway.

From the moment the last vehicles cleared the section on Christmas Eve, work gangs moved in around the clock to excavate roughly 24,000 tonnes of material from the motorway embankment and prepare to slide an 8,500 tonne concrete box under the road. Specialist hydraulic jacks will push the structure about 65 metres into position, after which the motorway will be rebuilt above it.

Although traffic levels typically fall during the festive period, authorities have repeatedly warned that the complete closure would still cause “severe delays” on diversion routes, particularly between 10:00 and 16:00 each day, as people travel for family gatherings, retail trips and post-Christmas leisure journeys.

Christmas Getaway Congestion Intensifies Across the South

The M27 shutdown landed on what transport planners had already predicted would be one of the busiest travel days since the pandemic, with millions of journeys forecast on Britain’s road and rail networks as people headed home or away for Christmas and New Year.

Motoring groups had flagged particular pressure on orbital routes such as the M25 and M60, as well as key holiday corridors linking London with the south coast, the West Country and the Midlands.

On the south coast, the closure between Junctions 9 and 11 of the M27 pushed long-distance traffic onto the A27 and surrounding local roads, adding to regular pre-Christmas heavy flows from Southampton, Portsmouth and the broader Solent region.

Local authorities in Fareham and Gosport had urged residents and businesses to avoid non-essential journeys, encourage working from home where possible and build in extra travel time if trips could not be rescheduled.

The impact of disrupted motorway links stretched beyond Hampshire. Ferry passengers heading to and from the Isle of Wight through Portsmouth and Southampton, as well as those using port facilities for cross-Channel sailings, were advised to leave significantly earlier than usual, with warnings that approach roads on both sides of the Solent could become heavily congested at peak times.

Rail services were also under strain, with early finishing times on some inter-city routes, ongoing staffing constraints and high passenger numbers combining to limit options for travellers trying to switch away from the road network at short notice.

M2 Collision in Kent Adds to Holiday Travel Turmoil

As drivers in Hampshire adjusted to the planned M27 shutdown, a serious crash on the M2 in Kent compounded the disruption for motorists attempting to cross the south east.

Shortly before 12:50 on Christmas Eve, a black Volkswagen T-Roc travelling on the London-bound carriageway near Medway services, close to Junction 4, struck the central reservation and overturned.

Kent Police said the driver, a woman in her 20s from the Faversham area, was pronounced dead at the scene. No other vehicles were involved in the collision, and there were no passengers in the car.

The force’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit attended and launched a detailed examination of the scene, with officers appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage from anyone who saw the vehicle before the crash or the incident itself.

As a result of the investigation, the M2’s westbound carriageway was closed between Junction 5, near Sittingbourne and the A249, and Junction 4, serving Gillingham and the Medway towns.

The closure came as many thousands of vehicles were travelling towards London and key interchange points on the M25 and other trunk roads, leading to queues building quickly in both directions.

Emergency services, including Kent Fire and Rescue Service and the South East Coast Ambulance Service, remained at the scene for several hours. Highways officers assisted in managing traffic flows, securing the area and implementing diversion routes, as authorities warned the westbound section of the motorway was expected to remain shut through much of the afternoon.

Diversions and Local Routes Under Intense Pressure

On the M2, National Highways and local traffic services put a signed diversion into effect, routing westbound drivers off at Junction 5 onto the A249 south towards Maidstone, then along the M20 westbound, before sending them north on the A228 to rejoin the motorway network nearer the Medway Towns. The recommended route added substantial mileage and journey time, particularly as traffic volumes built across Kent.

Motorists caught up in the closure reported slow progress and intermittent standstills on the diversion corridors, with some choosing to divert further onto local A roads in a bid to bypass bottlenecks.

Officials renewed calls for drivers to stay on designated diversions to avoid adding pressure to smaller routes through residential areas not designed for sustained heavy traffic.

In Hampshire, the M27 box-slide project had long included a carefully planned diversion strategy focused on the A27. Drivers travelling between Southampton and Portsmouth are being directed along this dual carriageway for the duration of the closure, with additional measures introduced at key junctions to regulate traffic, adjust signal timings and protect vulnerable pinch points.

Despite those preparations, councils across the Solent corridor had already warned that congestion was likely to extend well beyond the official diversion route, spilling into Fareham, Gosport and other nearby communities as some drivers attempt shortcuts or seek alternative access to local retail centres and coastal routes.

Authorities Urge Patience, Planning and Alternative Options

Hampshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways said the decision to carry out the M27 works over the festive period was driven by data showing lower traffic volumes compared with term time and normal commuter peaks.

However, she acknowledged the timing could still disrupt many residents and visitors during an important time of year, urging people to “plan ahead, check routes before setting off and consider whether journeys are essential.”

Officials stressed that the benefits of the project, once complete, would be felt for decades, with the upgraded junction expected to improve access to Fareham, Gosport and the planned Welborne Garden Village, reduce congestion at existing bottlenecks and create new provision for walking, cycling and equestrian routes alongside the motorway.

In Kent, police and highways officers appealed for patience among those stuck in queues on the M2 and surrounding roads, emphasising that collision investigations are vital to understanding what happened, supporting any future court proceedings and helping improve road safety.

The Serious Collision Investigation Unit is collecting forensic evidence at the scene and from the vehicle, and will review CCTV and dashcam footage as part of its work.

Both incidents highlighted the importance of contingency planning for holiday travel, with authorities repeating long-standing advice to check traffic conditions before departure, carry essentials such as water and warm clothing in case of extended delays, and be prepared to adjust plans if conditions deteriorate or incidents occur.

Human Impact on Drivers, Residents and Businesses

The fatal crash on the M2 cast a shadow over the Christmas getaway, with Kent Police confirming that the young driver’s next of kin had been informed. Officers appealed for the public to avoid speculation and instead provide any information that could assist the investigation. Support is expected to be offered to witnesses and emergency responders affected by the scene.

On the M27 corridor, local businesses had been preparing for weeks for the closure, following repeated briefings from Hampshire County Council and Fareham Borough Council.

Many firms were advised to adjust delivery schedules, shift staff to remote working where possible and alert customers to potential delays and access issues during the 10-day works.

Retailers in popular shopping destinations around Whiteley and Fareham faced a delicate balance: peak festive and post-Christmas trading combined with constrained road access.

Some reported rescheduling restocking deliveries to earlier in the week or to off-peak night-time slots outside the closure zone, while others warned customers to expect longer journeys and limited parking availability at the busiest times.

For residents in communities flanking the official diversion routes, increased noise, pollution and traffic were key concerns, particularly if satnav systems redirect drivers along residential cut-throughs.

Local authorities have deployed additional signage and, in some cases, temporary traffic management to discourage rat-running and protect narrow streets from sustained heavy use.

Long-Term Payoff from Short-Term Pain on the M27

Despite the immediate disruption, transport planners argue that the M27 project represents a rare opportunity to deliver a major piece of strategic infrastructure in a compressed timeframe.

By constructing the underpass structure alongside the live motorway and then sliding it into position during a continuous closure, engineers avoid months of intermittent night-time works that would disrupt commuters and freight on a rolling basis.

Once completed, the new layout at Junction 10 is intended to create a fully free-flowing junction with three new slip roads, a new dual carriageway and multiple roundabouts to better distribute traffic across the local network.

Proponents say the improvements will cut journey times, reduce queuing on approaches to the motorway and support the broader economic growth of south Hampshire.

The scheme has been funded in partnership with the Welborne Garden Village developer and Homes England, underlining the link between new housing delivery and upgraded infrastructure.

With up to 6,000 homes planned for the site, the enhanced junction is considered essential to prevent further strain on existing local roads and to encourage sustainable travel choices through integrated walking and cycling routes.

However, some residents and motorists remain sceptical about whether the long-term benefits justify the short-term inconvenience, particularly during the high-profile Christmas period.

Local campaigners have said they will closely monitor traffic once the junction reopens to assess whether promised improvements materialise in day-to-day driving conditions.

FAQ

Q1. When exactly is the M27 closed and which section is affected?
The M27 is closed in both directions between Junction 9 (Whiteley) and Junction 11 (Fareham) from 20:00 on Wednesday 24 December 2025 until 04:00 on Sunday 4 January 2026.

Q2. Why is the M27 being shut for so long over Christmas and New Year?
The closure allows engineers to excavate the motorway embankment and slide an 8,500 tonne pre-built underpass box into place beneath the carriageway as part of the Junction 10 improvement scheme, avoiding many months of overnight lane closures.

Q3. What diversion is in place while the M27 is closed?
Through traffic between Southampton and Portsmouth is being sent along the A27, with additional traffic management at key junctions. Drivers are advised to expect severe delays, especially between late morning and late afternoon on most days of the closure.

Q4. Can I still use Junctions 9, 10 and 11 during the M27 works?
Drivers can exit the M27 westbound at Junction 11 for Fareham and Gosport, and eastbound at Junction 9 for Whiteley and Park Gate. There is no westbound entry at Junction 11 or eastbound entry at Junction 9 during the closure, and access at Junction 10 is heavily restricted.

Q5. What happened in the serious crash on the M2 in Kent?
Shortly before 12:50 on Christmas Eve, a black Volkswagen T-Roc travelling westbound on the M2 near Medway services struck the central reservation and overturned. The driver, a woman in her 20s from the Faversham area, died at the scene. No other vehicles were involved.

Q6. Which part of the M2 is closed and how are drivers being diverted?
The M2’s London-bound carriageway has been closed between Junction 5 and Junction 4 to allow collision investigators to work. Westbound traffic is being diverted via the A249 to the M20, then back towards north Kent on the A228 to rejoin the motorway network.

Q7. How long is the M2 westbound closure in Kent expected to last?
Kent Police and highways officers have indicated the closure will remain in place for several hours on Christmas Eve while detailed investigations and recovery work are carried out, meaning disruption is likely to last through much of the afternoon and early evening.

Q8. What should motorists do if they need to travel through these affected areas?
Drivers are advised to check live traffic updates before setting out, allow significant extra time, follow signed diversions rather than cutting through local roads and, where possible, consider delaying journeys or using rail, bus or ferry alternatives.

Q9. Will the M27 and M2 incidents affect travel to ports and airports?
Yes, the M27 closure and knock-on congestion on the A27 can lengthen journeys to Southampton and Portsmouth ports, while the M2 disruption may affect trips towards London, Gatwick and other hubs. Passengers should allow extra time to reach departure points.

Q10. Are there any long-term benefits expected from the M27 works?
Once complete, the upgraded Junction 10 is expected to provide a fully free-flowing junction, better access to Fareham, Gosport and the planned Welborne Garden Village, improved local walking and cycling links and, in the longer term, reduced congestion on the south coast motorway corridor.