Getting on to an Island

Prior to 1927 the only road connection between Portsea Island and the mainland was an inconvenient and slow swing bridge over Portsbridge at Hilsea. This was improved to a permanent road but prompted by concern caused by the terrible blitz of early 1941 (getting help onto the Island and potentially evacuating everyone off), another route, the Eastern Road, was completed during World War II. The M275 subsequently opened in 1976 allowing access straight to the heart of Portsmouth. These three routes still remain the only road links off Portsea Island today.