COUNTY councillors say the second phase of a multi-million scheme to improve Eastleigh’s notorious gridlock spot, the A335 junction with the M27, can go ahead.

Wide Lane just isn’t wide enough and the aim is to improve traffic flow by increasing its breadth and creating a separate left-turn lane onto Junction 5. That will mean extending a culvert that channels water from the Monks Brook river.

Ecological work will be included to protect the bat and otter population and the area will also be fully landscaped when construction has been completed.

The first part of the project, building a leftturn lane between the westbound slip road of the M27 and the A335 Stoneham Way southbound carriageway, is due to be completed by April and the next stage is planned for the summer.