Portsmouth City Council will begin a major refurbishment of the iconic Sails of the South landmark on the M275 motorway on 10 February 2026. The work is expected to run for around 10 weeks, subject to weather.
The project will include the fitting of 27 new sail panels made from a strong, durable fabric chosen for its performance in coastal weather, and specialist contractors will inspect and replace or upgrade supporting booms, masts and fixings as required to ensure the structure meets today’s safety standards.
Portsmouth’s Tri‑Sail is 43 metres tall and serves as the main gateway to the city; the council says the work will keep the structure safe and looking its best for Portsmouth’s centenary year (Portsmouth100, 1926–2026).
Previous storm damage has affected the sails: BBC reporting from April–May 2024 noted that two panels were torn in storms and removed for safety. Replacing the panels now is intended to reduce future repairs and maintenance.
To minimise disruption on the busy M275, the council says most heavy work will take place during night‑time operations; there will be a night‑time closure on 9 February to enable the start of works. Prior overnight maintenance on the structure has used closures or restrictions between 23:00 and 05:00, but the council advises drivers to check the Live Travel Portsmouth feed for confirmed date‑by‑date closures and diversion details.
“The Sails of the South is an iconic feature that welcomes people into Portsmouth, so I’m delighted we’ve been able to provide the funding to get it looking tip‑top for the Portsmouth 100 centenary celebrations,” the council press release says (attributed to Cllr Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport).
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