Popham Interchange
| Popham Interchange | |||
| Location Map ( geo) | |||
 | |||
| The main part of the junction, as seen on the M3 southbound | |||
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| Location | |||
| Popham, Winchester, Hampshire | |||
| County | |||
| Hampshire | |||
| Highway Authority | |||
| National Highways | |||
| Junction Type | |||
| Two forks | |||
| Roads Joined | |||
| M3, A303, A33, A30 | |||
| Junctions related to the A33 | |||
Redbridge Roundabout (Southampton) • Hockley Interchange • Winnall Interchange • Bar End Interchange • Chilworth Interchange • Three Mile Cross Interchange • Binfields Roundabout • Crockford Roundabout • Memorial Roundabout (Southampton) • Bassett Crossroads • Stag Gates • Charlotte Place • Six Dials • Mayflower Roundabout • Millbrook Roundabout • Kings Worthy Interchange • Bevois Valley Interchange | |||
Popham Interchange is junction 8 of the M3, where it splits into the M3 to Southampton and the A303 towards Exeter. It also covers the junction of the A303 and A30 at the end of the spur, and the A33 which meets the A30 here and used to terminate the M3.
History
This junction has always consisted of a split - at the time of classification, the A33 took the mainline with an unclassified road heading to Stockbridge which was quickly upgraded to the B3379, but it is better known as the fork between the A33 to Southampton and the A30 to Exeter, with the A30 taking priority in a multiplex to the north. This part of the junction has been in place since 1 April 1933 and hasn't changed today.
When the M3 opened in 1971, it split into two roads next to the existing junction, with the first road terminating on the A33 just south of here and the second on the A30 just west of here. The two terminal junctions were identical forks, although the A33 arm had a turning circle half way down it.
One newspaper report dated 1980 suggested the M3 was supposed to reach Southampton from the start, but ended at Popham due to "protestors". The subsequent section of A33 was described as a "deathtrap".
In 1985 the M3 was extended to the south, alongside the A33, with the terminal junction being closed. The A30 west of here has since been upgraded to A303, but that fork junction remains intact.
Since the 1985 extension, a minor road, Popham Court Lane, partly follows the former alignment of the southbound A33 and passes under the M3 mainline by the same bridge.
Routes
| Route | To | Notes |
| London, Basingstoke | ||
| Winchester, Southampton | ||
| The SOUTH WEST, Andover, Salisbury | Formerly A30 (A30 still follows route in multiplex) | |
| Basingstoke | Multiplexed with the A33 | |
| King's Worthy, Micheldever | ||
| London | Representing access from A33 northbound - movement no longer possible. | |
| Winchester, Southampton, Ringwood, Bournemouth | Representing access from M3 southbound - movement no longer possible. |
