PART of the M27 is closed this weekend while a footbridge is demolished.

The motorway is closed between junctions 9 and 11, including access off and onto the M27 at junction 10, until 9pm on Saturday.

The closure is to allow the demolition of the North Fareham footbridge.

The work will be led by Highways England and is part of the project to upgrade the M27 to smart motorway standard.

Highways England said the current footbridge is not compatible with the smart motorway scheme which includes converting the hard shoulder on both the eastbound, and westbound carriageways, into a new live lane.

Project manager Mike Webster had previously said the curvature of the underside of the footbridge currently doesn’t affect the hard shoulder on both the eastbound and westbound carriageway of the M27. But when the smart motorway is complete, those hard shoulders will become live lanes.

Mr Webster explained that as a result, any lorries, or other tall vehicles that will travel along the new live lanes will have a reduced height between them and the bottom of the footbridge, which goes against safety standards.

“Because of this, a solution is needed to ensure the safety of all travelling vehicles along the M27, once the smart motorway upgrade is complete,” he added.

The new footbridge will be a combination of concrete and prefabricated steelwork footbridge, with features for equestrian use.

Due to the closure, westbound traffic between junction 11 and 9 is being diverted onto the A27 towards Gosport and the eastbound traffic at junction 9 is being diverted onto the A27 towards Segensworth.

But residents have been urged to plan their journeys in advance.

Highway bosses also said the demolition is expected to be “noisy” but efforts will be made to mitigate the disturbance. The footbridge will not be replaced for at least six months.

“We are currently working to identify the most suitable date for this to take place,” Mr Webster said.

As reported, the smart motorway scheme aims to reduce congestion and smooth the flow of traffic by turning the hard shoulder into a permanent running lane. All links on the M27 between junction four to 11 will be upgraded to smart motorway.

The hard shoulder will be retained between junctions seven and eight.