M27 Motorway Constructed

1975

The M27 motorway was built in stages during the 1970s and opened to traffic progressively. The section near Hedge End, including Junction 7, provided direct motorway access for the growing town. The M27 connected Southampton to Portsmouth along the south Hampshire coast and transformed the accessibility of the settlements along its route. For Hedge End, the motorway cemented its position as a well-connected commuter settlement and was a major factor in the continued housing development of the 1970s and 1980s. The motorway also brought noise and visual impact to the southern edge of the town.