Forces for Change: Borough-Wide
Traffic and Transport
The Test Valley borough is crossed by two busy main transport corridors, the M27 in the south and the A303(T) in the north. Away from these two corridors traffic is heaviest around the more urban parts of the Borough at Andover and in the triangle between and including Southampton, Chandlers Ford and Romsey and on the main cross country roads, the A30, A343, A3057, A27, A36 and A3090. Elsewhere, particularly on the many small winding unclassified roads, traffic is pleasantly light but often perceived as intrusive, particularly in busy recreational areas such as Mottisfont, Danebury Hill and Stockbridge Down or where large vehicles are used.
Overall there is an increase in traffic volume, size and speed within the rural areas, caused by a number of factors, notably: commuting from rural areas into towns; lack of local services and facilities creating a dependence on the private car; the use of rural lanes as short cuts; larger scale farms creating additional traffic with bulk deliveries and using heavier vehicles; the increase in car-born recreation; and the increase in through traffic on the major roads in Test Valley Borough.
Higher traffic levels and the needs for safety and greater accessibility have resulted in:
New road signs, lighting, road widening and straightening, engineering works and uniformity
Increased requirement for the provision of parking within villages and rural locations, for example at recreation sites.