A27 (Portsmouth to Fareham)

Street guide, Solent News

The A27 runs east-west along the south Hampshire coast, connecting Portsmouth and Fareham via Portchester and Cosham. For much of its route through the Solent area, it follows the northern shore of Portsmouth Harbour, passing through built-up suburbs and retail areas. The road predates the M27 and remains heavily used for local journeys that do not justify joining the motorway. West of Fareham, the A27 continues toward Southampton and eventually along the entire south coast to Pevensey in East Sussex, though its character varies enormously. The Fareham to Portsmouth section passes Portchester Castle, the large Quay Street junction in Fareham, and several major retail parks. It crosses the top of Portsea Island at the Cosham junction before continuing into Portsmouth. The road is often congested, particularly at the Delme roundabout in Fareham and through Portchester. It serves as a vital link for residents who need to travel between the two cities without using the motorway, and for access to Portchester, which sits on the A27 between the two. Improvements and junction upgrades have been carried out over the years, but capacity remains an issue at peak times.