The Hospital and University have recently announced a collaboration on a new Institute of Medical Innovation (IMI).

We fully support the potential investment into this facility, which is a vital addition to our city’s medical standing in global health research. Given the once in a generation regeneration of this land, we must use this opportunity to create a better relationship between the hospital and the road network.

The Coxford Road / Tremona Road junction is already a critical bottleneck. As it stands, daily congestion severely impacts the flow of cars and buses for patients, visitors and nearby residents.

With the junction carrying the most bus routes outside of the City Centre, and with people from further afield needing bus access to the hospital, the pressure on this junction will only increase.

We cannot afford to miss this generational opportunity to fix the infrastructure alongside the architecture.

We call on the University of Southampton and the University Hospital Southampton to work with Southampton City Council or its successor, providing the necessary space to open up the junction.

This is essential to:

• Ensure the junction is fit for the future
• Alleviate traffic pressure alongside the hospital
• Guarantee reliable bus and car flow for the whole community

Let's work together to ensure the IMI leaves a positive, lasting legacy for both medical research and our local infrastructure.