One of Petersfield’s busiest junctions is set to temporarily close as a six-week scheme to improve road and pedestrian safety has begun.

Hampshire Highways are installing a zebra crossing on The Causeway south of the Dragon Street junction as part of their Active Travel programme.

New tactile paving, a shared cycle path and wildflower planting is also proposed at the Dragon Street end of Sussex Road with parts of the latter and Hylton Road being closed while work takes place.

Signs warning of six-week road closures were put up around the junction last week with an adjoining section of Sussex Road being closed on Tuesday (July 22).

The entirety of The Causeway and Dragon Street through the section was open at the time of writing but the section from the Tesco roundabout to the junction is expected to close soon for the crossing installation.

The Dragon Street and Causeway project is one of more than 100 transport improvement schemes that Hampshire County Council has prioritised for 2025-26.

Funds from Section 106 developer contributions are being used – although there has been some consternation that the Dragon Street work is taking place before changes are made to the notorious Durford Road crossroads.

Movement on that long-awaited scheme is expected next year with Hampshire County Councillor, Russell Oppenheimer, claiming the Dragon Street changes are more achievable in the short term.

He said: “Yes, Dragon Street has leapfrogged it but there are a lot of complexities around the Durford Road crossroads and a high level of engineering, whereas HCC were ready to do this one.

“There was also some pressure to use S106 funds that were up against a deadline, so it made sense.”

Mr Oppenheimer added the Highways Team will make every effort to make sure the work is done by the end of August.