A3023

This article is about the present A3023 in eastern Hampshire.
For the original route of A3023, a road on the Isle of Wight, see A3023 (Isle of Wight).

Langstone

Forming the only route between Hayling Island and the mainland at Havant, the A3023 is a nice drive with enough sharp bends to keep you awake. For a short road, it's also much longer than you think it's going to be.

Originally the B2149 the road gained its current number in the 1960s. Given that the whole road is east of the A3 that makes it technically out-of-zone, although given that the road is largely on an offshore island perhaps there's a reason for that.

The road starts at a roundabout beneath the A27 Havant Bypass, where the B2149 also joins in. Originally the whole of the A3023 was part of the B2149, but the road down to Hayling was later upgraded. From here it heads south, past some fairly expensive houses, until it crosses the sea on Langstone Bridge to reach Hayling Island. This used to be a toll bridge but it is now free. Around here are several boating yards, pubs, and what was recently announced as the most expensive petrol station in the UK. Lovely.

The road has a few short attempts at being rural as it dives between the various housing areas to the north of Hayling Island, with various sharp bends along the way. After what feels like a while, there's a tiny section of dual carriageway as we bend west and have a roundabout with the C426, which is exposed by a sign on the northbound side.

It heads south again, past several holiday parks and this time staying urban. The A3023 comes to an end at a roundabout on the seafront in South Hayling, outside the amusement park. However, the sea itself is invisible here - but then we saw plenty of it at the beginning of the road.