Residents angered after drivers ignore diversion route and use 'unsuitable' roads instead

As previously reported, Braishfield Road is shut as part of a three-month work operation to put in traffic lights on the junction of Winchester Road.

Nearby residents expressed their confusion as to how the works would take the time listed, but have since complained of more local roads being used by drivers instead of the marked diversion that is in place.

Community members around School Road and Granger Road have complained about the volume of traffic and the safety of residents on the roads.

Council bosses have defended the length of time the road will be closed for to put the lights in place, and have appealed to drivers to be aware that they are 'driving through residential roads'.

Hampshire County Council's executive member for environment and transport, Rob Humby, said: "The A3090 remains open at all times and there is a diversion in place.

"The alternative would have been to put temporary lights on the A3090 which would have extended the duration of the work from 12 to 20 weeks.

"We anticipate the majority of diverted traffic to use Cupernham Lane, where the traffic lights recently introduced at the junction with Winchester Road have made the junction so much easier to use. We anticipate a similar success with the Braishfield Road lights, once they are installed.

"However, people with local knowledge may choose to use local roads instead of following the diversion.

"I appreciate that the residents of these roads will be seeing more traffic than usual during this temporary closure, so I would ask all drivers to be aware that they are driving through residential roads, and adjust their driving accordingly."

Drivers and residents took to social media to vent their anger.

One said that 'this road is simply not adequate to take this sort of traffic' and another called on the council to use temporary lights and vehicle control to keep the road open instead of having closed it off.