Flooding closure on A31 near Ringwood lifted after emergency work causes over three days of disruption

A PARTIAL closure of the A31 near Ringwood following flooding has been lifted after over three days of heavy disruption to motorists.

National Highways: South-East first announced on X around 6.30pm on Monday that one westbound lane had been shut for emergency work between the M27 and the A338 Salisbury Road.

This initial closure lasted for about three hours that evening before being reported in place again just after 7am on Tuesday morning.

As reported by the A&T, there was confusion as National Highways stated around 12.40pm that day all lanes had been cleared.

But it then confirmed around 2pm that the lane was still shut, along with the Picket Post exit slip road it had already said would remain closed for “the next couple of days”.

Delays of up to 90 minutes were reported amid traffic tailbacks of about seven miles as the work continued.

On Wednesday afternoon, National Highways: South-East said a collapsed drain needed repair, but floodwater first had to be cleared.

The exit slip road was the first announced to have been reopened around 7pm last night (Thursday), before the end of the works was confirmed around 2.40am this morning.

“The emergency roadworks on the A31 westbound between the M27 and A338 near Ringwood are now complete,” National Highways posted.

“All lanes have been reopened and any residual delays in the area have now cleared.”