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National Highways confirms the A31 dual carriageway will reopen on Saturday morning following repairs to wildfire damage.

National Highways has confirmed that the A31 dual carriageway, which was closed for nearly two weeks, will reopen on Saturday morning. The closure was caused by a wildfire in the New Forest that began when a van caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood on August 9. The blaze destroyed approximately 1.6 sq km of heathland, impacting rare plant species and ancient trees. To facilitate the reopening, workers completed resurfacing the carriageway, installed 800m of new safety barriers, and replaced 1,500m of boundary fencing to prevent animals from entering the road. Kat Saradinova, head of scheme delivery, noted that the repairs were substantial due to the challenging conditions of the fire. While the main route between Bournemouth and Southampton will open, the eastbound carriageway will have a 40mph speed limit, and the westbound carriageway will have a 50mph limit with one lane closed for fire services. The public is urged to avoid the hazardous area as crews continue to dampen down hotspots.

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