PLANS for a £52 million road widening on the M27 south of Romsey have been unveiled this week.

The work, due to start in 2008, is likely to last for around 15 months. It will include the creation of a fourth lane on both the eastbound and westbound carriageways between Junction Three (Nursling) and Junction 4 (Chilworth).

It will also incorporate upgrading of the safety barriers, an extension of the motorway lighting between the two junctions and electronic overhead variable speed limit signs similar to those which are a prominent feature on the M25 around London.

The public will be given an opportunity to look at the proposals at an exhibition at Nursling and Rownhams Village Hall on January 12 (10am to 8pm) and 13 (10am to 4pm) and to make any comments by February 22.

The widening will cover a two-and-a-half mile stretch and the Highways Agency stressed that it was being done to reduce congestion and improve safety for all users.

In a statement this week, the Agency said: "The area has seen considerable growth in recent years, which has led to increased traffic flows. This causes congestion during peak periods.

"There is a high proportion of slower moving traffic. Heavy goods vehicles and traffic changing lanes associated with the two junctions and the motorway service area are factors contributing to disruption to the flow of traffic on the main carriageway."

And with the stretch having again been the scene of long morning rush-hour tailbacks bat the beginning of this week, the statement added: "These factors lead to congestion and hence unreliable journey times."

It added that the widening would be achieved "wholly within the existing highway boundary" which would minimise environmental impacts and use only land owned by the Highways Agency.

The project will also mean a slight narrowing of lane and hard shoulder widths and the report explained: "Full. Standard widths would have required the demolition and rebuilding of the existing bridges.

"There are many problems associated with this, including a need to require additional land, resulting in significant environmental; impact and disruption.

"The alternative which is now proposed includes the use of narrower traffic lanes and some lengths of reduced hard shoulder width. This offers all the major benefits in terms of improved traffic flows and relief of congestion required, but minimises disruption to the local community, the travelling public and the environment."

A Highways Agency spokesman said efforts would be made to minimise traffic congestion when the work was in progress and added: "As with all of our schemes, we will try to keep traffic moving as much as we can."