Drivers name M27 as UK's worst motorway as 'terrible' roadworks plague vital route

Roadworks on the M27 have caused so much frustration that drivers have named the Hampshire route the worst motorway in the UK.

Just 56 per cent of motorists said they were satisfied with their experience on the 28-mile motorway, according to new findings from watchdog Transport Focus.

The survey, which questioned more than 9,500 drivers, placed the M27 at the bottom of a league table covering England's major motorways and A roads.

The motorway is an important route across Hampshire and the south of England, used by thousands of commuters and other motorists every day.

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The M27 has been affected by long-running resurfacing projects and junction alterations, with drivers facing lower speed limits, narrower lanes and prolonged disruption.

One driver described the roadworks as "terrible", complaining about slower speeds and narrower lanes despite "very rarely" seeing anyone actually working.

The comments reflect a wider frustration among motorists who feel the disruption caused by roadworks is not always matched by visible progress.

The A30 and M20 shared the top spot in the rankings, with both routes achieving a satisfaction score of 79 per cent.

The M56 came third with 78 per cent, followed by the M5, which also scored 78 per cent. The A19 and A23 each recorded 77 per cent, while the M4 and A14 both achieved 76 per cent.

East England's A12 was the lowest-rated major A road, with 64 per cent of drivers saying they were satisfied with their experience.

The M60 scored 63 per cent, while the M42 recorded 61 per cent. The M27 came bottom of the rankings with just 56 per cent satisfaction.

Satisfaction among drivers using smart motorways also increased, rising from 60 per cent to 66 per cent.

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Transport Focus linked the improvement partly to the completion of a programme installing 150 additional emergency refuge areas.

The programme caused significant disruption while the work was being carried out, but the completed improvements appear to have helped improve the experience for some motorists.

Safety confidence stood at 78 per cent among smart motorway users, compared with 82 per cent on traditional motorways.

Louise Collins, director at Transport Focus, said: "Overall satisfaction has increased and there are encouraging signs that drivers are noticing improvements in key areas; however, drivers continue to tell us that roadworks can make or break a journey."

Ms Collins urged National Highways to learn from successful schemes and ensure future roadworks are "well planned, clearly communicated and minimise disruption wherever possible".

More roadworks could be on the way as England's ageing road network enters a major period of maintenance, as much of the strategic road network was built in the 1960s and is now facing an extensive programme of repairs and renewals.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "The picture that emerges suggests National Highways will need to up its game more consistently across England given the scale of maintenance work planned for the network through to 2030."

National Highways has launched a five-year renewals programme, meaning drivers could face further disruption before major improvements are completed.

A spokesperson added that the agency was "committed to tackling an ageing network head-on to keep the country moving and give drivers better experiences".

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