From Monday 3 August Southern Water will begin work to rebuild and resurface Bassett Avenue, closing the road southbound between Chilworth Roundabout and Memorial Roundabout and reducing northbound traffic to a single lane. The utility firm says the scheme follows an earlier major repair to a water main in the area and is expected to take two weeks to complete.
What the closure means for traffic
The closure will affect traffic travelling to and from the M3, with drivers asked to follow a diversion via Bassett Green Road, Stoneham Lane and Burgess Road. Councillors have warned that the changes will place additional pressure on already busy routes and on residential streets used as alternative corridors.
- Closure: southbound Bassett Avenue (Chilworth Roundabout to Memorial Roundabout)
- Northbound traffic: reduced to one lane
- Diversion route: Bassett Green Road → Stoneham Lane → Burgess Road
- Planned start: Monday 3 August; duration: up to two weeks
Councillors voice concerns
Councillors said the responsibility for the works lies with the utility company rather than the council, but they stressed the likely local impact and the need for close monitoring.
“There will be all sorts going on. It’s got to be done.”
That was the assessment of the councillor with transport responsibility, who also said officers would keep a close watch to try to prevent any overrun. A Bassett ward councillor said diverted traffic was likely to create congestion on main roads that are also residential, and described the prospect as causing “quite a lot of inconvenience for people”.
HGV movements and residential disturbance
Separately, councillors highlighted ongoing problems with heavy goods vehicles using Winchester Road and The Avenue at night. One councillor reported counting 45 HGV movements in Winchester Road in the space of an hour on a midweek evening, and warned this could become more problematic during the Bassett Avenue works if HGVs divert onto residential streets rather than using the motorway.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Start date | Monday 3 August |
| Expected duration | Two weeks |
| Closure | Southbound between Chilworth and Memorial Roundabouts |
| Northbound | Reduced to one lane |
Residents are likely to see changes to journey times, increased traffic on diversion routes and potential noise from nighttime HGV movements. Council officers say they will be monitoring progress and timings closely to limit disruption, but local drivers and neighbourhoods should plan for a period of congestion while work is carried out.
Further updates are expected from Southern Water and Southampton City Council as the work progresses and if any adjustments to the programme become necessary.
