M27 Tops List of England's Worst Motorways
A new survey by Transport Focus has identified the M27 as England's worst motorway, with only 56% of drivers reporting satisfaction with their journeys. This is the lowest satisfaction score among all UK motorways, surpassing even the notoriously busy M25, M6, and M1.
Survey Details and Driver Feedback
The study polled over 9,500 drivers over the 12 months ending March 2026. One motorist described the ongoing roadworks on the M27 as “terrible,” citing reduced speed limits and narrow lanes as major frustrations. The M27, a 28-mile route in Hampshire stretching from Cadham near the New Forest to Portsmouth, is currently undergoing multiple maintenance projects.
Ongoing Roadworks and Improvements
National Highways is installing a new concrete overlay between junctions 5 and 7, with additional maintenance at junction 8. Improvements at junction 10 and signal renewal at junction 3 are also underway. Starting July 2026, a bridge renewal on the M27 at Southampton Road Hilsea Interchange will begin. Transport Focus director Louise Collins stated: “By applying the positive lessons from recent schemes, National Highways has an opportunity to ensure roadworks are well planned, clearly communicated and minimise disruption wherever possible.”
Best and Worst Motorways
In contrast, the M20 was rated the best motorway in the UK with a 79% satisfaction score, followed by the M56 (78%), M5 (78%), and M4 (76%). The A30 also scored 79%. National Highways commented: “We manage our roads to ensure the highest levels of safety while minimising disruption to drivers. The survey results show our work to improve road conditions and incident response times have had a positive impact for drivers. When roads are well maintained, businesses and communities feel the benefit, and we are committed to tackling an ageing network head-on to keep the country moving and give drivers better experiences.”
