We'll be carrying out urgent cabling works on the A3 near Mile End Road in Portsmouth over two upcoming weekends. These will begin after the evening rush hour on Friday 6 March and run to the early hours of Monday 9 March, and resume again from the evening of 13 March until the morning of Monday 16 March.  

These works are essential to repair a fault on an underground cable that helps keep power flowing safely and reliably to tens of thousands of Portsmouth’s homes and businesses.

The works in detail

To minimise disruption to road users during these urgent, essential works, the northbound and southbound lanes of the A3 at Mile End Road will remain open to traffic throughout, with partial lane closures in place over these two weekends in March.

Full road closures or diversions are not planned, and walking and cycling routes will remain open.

Following agreement with Portsmouth City Council and the National Highways, our engineers and contractors will be working round the clock to carry out the works as safely and quickly as possible, without any planned interruption to power supplies.

While traffic management will be in place to enable vehicles to move through the lane closures as easily as possible, we are also funding additional Park and Ride services, so residents and visitors to the area have further, alternative means of transport during this time. People travelling to connecting ferry services leaving from Portsmouth are advised to leave extra time for their journeys.

Advice and support for travellers

This repair is essential, and by carrying out the work at this time, the risk of a significant power outage in the future is significantly reduced.

All efforts are being taken to ensure any impact is minimised. We would like to thank residents, commuters and visitors for their patience and understanding while we carry out these emergency works to maintain Portsmouth’s power supply.

People travelling by car to the city centre’s shops, Hard Interchange, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard or travelling to the Isle of Wight, are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journey.

To help limit delays, you may wish to:

  • Use an alternative route into the city such as Eastern Road or Copnor Rd / London Rd via Hilsea.

  • Try the Portsmouth Park and Ride, located just off Junction 1 of the M275; follow the signs for the car park. Additional services will be running, but please still allow a little some extra time. Click here to find out more about the Park and Ride. 

  • Travel by train to the city centre (Portsmouth and Southsea Station) or Hard Interchange (Portsmouth Harbour Station) where possible. There are no planned disruptions to rail services on the weekends when Mile End Road lane closures are in place.

  • Park at Havant or Fareham railway stations and continue your journey by rail.