HIGHWAY chiefs are about to embark on an £8m scheme to improve two major roads on the edge of the New Forest.

Hampshire County Council is planning to upgrade seven junctions on the southern section of the A326 Totton to Holbury road and one on the B3053 Holbury to Calshot route.

Preliminary work on the "much-needed" scheme is due to start tomorrow.

It follows the approval of plans to replace the old Fawley power station with 1,500 homes and a raft of commercial and community facilities.

Cllr Rob Humby, the county council's executive member for economy, transport and the environment, said: “The A326 needs significant improvement at the northern end to improve access for public transport.

"We will be submitting a bid for national funding for this major infrastructure work.

“In the meantime, our team will be implementing some modest but much-needed improvements to increase capacity at eight junctions."

A county council spokesperson said the improvements would increase capacity at junctions that currently experienced congestion and delays. They would also create a network that was better able to accommodate future growth.

Investigative work, including trial holes and ecological surveys, is due to start tomorrow and last four weeks.

The main work is set to begin on December 1 and take 18 months, with temporary traffic lights operating between 9.30am and 4pm, to minimise disruption.

The junction upgrades will be delivered in two phases to reduce the impact of the scheme.

Phase 1: Long Lane/A326 (Holbury Roundabout), widening of approaches and exit lanes; Hardley Roundabout, widening of approaches and exit lanes; Applemore Roundabout (Sizer Way), widening of approaches and exit lanes; Dibden Roundabout, widening of approaches and exit lanes and new pedestrian crossing.

Phase 2: Blackfield Road/Church Lane/B3053, signalised junction proposed, including new crossing facilities; A326/Holbury Drove, new southbound right-turn ghost island including new pedestrian crossing facilities; A326/Southbourne Avenue, new southbound right-turn ghost island; Dibden Purlieu Roundabout, widening of approaches and exit lanes.

Solent Local Enterprise Partnership has provided £5.7m towards the scheme.

Fawley Waterside, the consortium behind plans to transform the old power station site, has donated £2.4m.

As reported in the Daily Echo, two applications to transform the site were approved in July at separate meetings of New Forest District Council and the New Forest National Park Authority.

Many of the objectors had claimed that the proposed development would increase congestion on the A326.