WORK on a multimillion-pound jam-busting scheme to improve one of Hampshire’s busiest motorway junctions is about to begin – giving drivers months of traffic headaches.

Junction three of the M27 will receive extra carriageways and traffic lights as the second phase of work to reduce bottlenecks begins on Monday.

The £2.3m scheme follows a similar project which started in August at junction five at Eastleigh, at a cost of £8m.

But the 96,000 motorists who use junction three every day will face traffic misery until spring.

As previously reported work was due to start on junction three in July but was delayed to avoid additional traffic during the August Bank Holiday and the Southampton Boat Show.

The project is part of the Government’s £300m motorway “pinch point” programme and will include: n Widening of he slip road off the westbound carriageway of the M27 from two lanes to three n Widening the M271 southbound from Romsey to include a third lane n Widening the M271 northbound from Southampton to include a third lane from 200m from the traffic lights n Removing the hard shoulder on the eastern side of the roundabout heading south from Romsey or the New Forest towards Southampton and replacing it with a third lane n Installing traffic lights on sections of the roundabout which don’t already have them Diversions will be put in place while the junction is closed over night and some lanes on both the M27 and M271 will be closed during the day.

The project comes ahead of the planned development of Adanac Park, which sits alongside the M271.

Earlier this year landowners Barker-Mill Estates announced plans to create 47,000sqm of business space spread over four plots in Adanac Park.

The project will include redevelopment of Yew Tree Farm plus the creation of 49 homes and an 80-bedroom care home.

The estate claims this will bring 3,600 new jobs to the area.