A31 overnight closures after the New Forest wildfire: Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch airport transfers through 12 September

Safety repairs following the recent New Forest wildfire will require overnight closures on the A31. If you have an upcoming early-morning flight or overnight airport transfer from Poole, Bournemouth, or Christchurch, here is what you need to know:

Roadwork & Closure Details

• Affected Route: A31 closed in both directions between Ashley Heath and M27 Junction 2.
• Dates & Times: 1–12 September 2026, Monday to Friday nights, from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
• Reason: National Highways safety repairs to fencing and central reservation barriers damaged by the wildfire.
• Daytime Impact: An eastbound 40 mph speed limit remains in effect through 12 September.

How This Affects Your Transfer

• Early Outbound Pickups: Outbound runs to Southampton, Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted scheduled before 6:00 AM usually rely on the A31.
• Adjusted Routing: For pickups during closure hours, we will depart slightly earlier than standard schedule and use the official A338 diversion. You will arrive at the airport with plenty of time to catch your flight.
• Network Status: The Sandbanks Ferry is running normally, and the M3/M25 remain clear with no major disruptions reported across our target airports.

Travelling before 6:00 AM between 1 and 12 September? Book now and our team will adjust your pickup time automatically to bypass the closures.