Construction work has begun on an £18m project to build two new climbing lanes on the M27 near Portsmouth.

The climbing lanes will reduce congestion and improve safety on the motorway, helping heavy traffic to climb the hill which is approximately half way between junctions 11 and 12.

Tom Harris, the Minister for Roads, has welcomed the start of work on the scheme. He said: "These two new climbing lanes, together with the forthcoming £36m widening scheme for the M27 between junctions 3 and 4 around Southampton, will help to make travelling on the M27 safer and more reliable.

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"Once completed, the new lanes will also contribute to the economic well-being of the south coast ports and the communities around them."

There will be two climbing lanes, both approximately 2km in length, one running eastbound from junction 11 at Fareham and the other westbound from junction 12 at Portsmouth. They will create a fourth lane in each direction making the existing hard shoulder into a traffic lane and adding a new shoulder. All the work will be within the existing Highways Agency land boundary.

Work on the climbing lanes is expected to continue for 10 months, allowing the new lanes to be opened to traffic towards the end of 2008.

(JM)