M27 Junction 3a

Too many local people are unaware of this excellent local transport interchange. It cuts journey times and routes motorists through quiet local roads avoiding queues at the better-known junctions 3, 4 and 5. You can even pick up a Costa or MacDonalds and get petrol on your way through.

Junction 3a is managed by Roadchef with support from Hampshire County Council and the Highways Agency.

Getting Here

Junction 3a is located off Rownhams Lane. Don't be put off by the lack of road signs or your satnav telling you to turn around. The westbound access slip is located just south of the M27 bridge and you can head eastbound via the access road just to the north of the bridge. 

Junction 3a is not yet signed from the M27 either. You have to take the exit for Rownhams Services and head for the coach park. So handy when the M27 is bumper-to-bumper and you need an escape route via local villages.

Turn off Rownhams Lane, ignore out-of-date signs

You are an authorised vehicle, carry on...

Mind the coach party - J3a is a tourist attraction

And you're on the M27... happy days

Safety

A cycle path runs the length of Rownhams Lane and this crosses Junction 3a's sliproads. Imbecile cyclists keep getting in the way of the motorway traffic passing through here. Here's a couple from the 2010 police database at the eastbound access:

Crash Date: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 

Time of Crash: 8:10:00 AM 

Crash Reference: 22532114

Number of Vehicles: 2 Number of Casualties: 1

Vehicles involved:

1 Goods vehicle 3.5 tonnes mgw and under Male 16 - 24 Vehicle is in the act of turning right

2 Pedal cycle Male 0 - 15 Vehicle proceeding normally along the carriageway, not on a bend

Crash Date: Thursday, October 21, 2010 

Time of Crash: 8:45:00 AM 

Crash Reference: 22651576

Number of Vehicles: 2 Number of Casualties: 1

Vehicles involved

1 Car (excluding private hire cars 2005 onwards) Female Unknown Vehicle is slowing down or stopping

2 Pedal cycle Male 0 - 15 Vehicle proceeding normally along the carriageway, not on a bend

The problem was the pushbikes thinking they had right of way across a minor access road! Of all things.  Where do they think they are, Holland? Reckon it's lazy kids late for school. I blame the parents, can't they drive the kids like everyone else? I bet they tried a "where-theres-blame-theres-a-claim" against Roadchef and the HA and got a payout. Call social services.

Anyway, Hampshire County Council in their quest to encourage use of junction 3a have just painted "toy town" give-way signs so that the bl**dy cyclists know their place and have to stop to let the important motorists blast from the M27 onto the fast local village roads. Ha ha ha that'll really wind up those eco warriors!!!!

Westbound access: cyclists have priority

Eastbound access: Since summer 2012, M27 traffic has priority :)

So be assured that you do not have to give way to cyclists going straight on here. Just turn and let them look after themselves.

Legal

In theory this junction should not exist. Roadchef is required to keep barriers in place and the Highways Agency should enforce this. But ingenious local "voluntary engineers" ensure that the barriers are kept in a state of disrepair for the benefit of motorists. Everyone else turns a blind eye.

Barrier ingeniously modified for motorists' benefit

There is a camera monitoring traffic movements but it's not switched on. We've never heard of anyone being penalised for using this nifty shortcut. Roadchef welcomes the extra custom, the Highways Agency don't seem to care and Hampshire County Council are actually working to improve access to the junction.

The only people that might put up some aggro are local people fed up with the extra traffic and cyclists who have to look out or they'll be in hospital but, hey, they can't fine you can they.

Maintenance

Currently only the eastbound side of M27 junction 3a is open to general traffic. The barrier on the westbound slip is awaiting disrepair. Watch this blog: we'll keep you updated when things change.