National Highways has confirmed the reopening of the M27 westbound after the removal of a gantry at the site of a fatal lorry crash, allowing traffic to resume its flow along the busy Hampshire motorway.
The closure, which spanned between junction 9 and junction 5, lasted a day and a half following a tragic three-vehicle collision on Wednesday that claimed the life of a lorry driver in his 30s.
Initially, authorities had aimed for the stretch to reopen on Thursday evening. However, it was not until just after midnight that the motorway was finally cleared for traffic.
National Highways provided updates on the reopening via social media, stating: “The overhead gantry has been removed, and the M27 westbound is now open between J9 Fareham and J5 #Southampton following a serious collision yesterday. A lane 1 (of 4) closure remains in place past the scene for continued repairs to roadside technology.”
Subsequent announcements confirmed the full reopening of the motorway, with National Highways reporting, “The lane 1 (of 4) closure that remained on the M27 westbound between J7 (#HedgeEnd) and J5 (#Southampton) has been lifted. All lanes are fully open on the carriageway. Traffic flowing well in the area.
The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of road safety and the diligent efforts of emergency responders and highway maintenance teams to ensure the swift and safe reopening of critical transport routes for the benefit of the public.
