A31 Closed Westbound Amid Murder Probe
A major road in Hampshire has been closed westbound due to a police-led incident, with traffic expected to be disrupted for several hours. The A31, a key route connecting the M27 to the A338, was shut down on Saturday, June 7, 2025, following a discovery made by detectives investigating the disappearance of Yajaira Castro Mendez.
According to reports, Yajaira Castro Mendez, 46, was reported missing to the Metropolitan Police on May 31, having left her home in Ilford on the morning of May 29. Since then, detectives have been carrying out urgent enquiries to find her body. On Saturday, June 7, a body was found in the Bolderwood area, although it is not confirmed if this is Yajaira Castro Mendez.
The A31 closure was announced by National Highways on social media, stating that the road was closed westbound between the M27 Cadnam Interchange and the A338 near Ringwood. The closure is expected to remain in place for around three hours, with traffic being diverted via a designated route. Motorists are advised to allow extra journey time if their planned route is impacted.
The diversion route, as specified by National Highways, is as follows:
- Exit the M27 at J2
- Take the A326 southbound
- At the junction with the A35 near Colbury, exit the A326 and turn right
- Take the A35 westbound and remain on this road towards Bournemouth, passing through Lyndhurst, Allum Green, Holmsley, and Hinton Admiral
- At the Somerford Roundabout in Christchurch, take the third exit to remain on the A35
- Follow the A35 through Christchurch to the Ilford Roundabout with the A3060
- Take the third exit on to the A3060 and follow this road to the Cooper Dean Roundabout with the A338
- Take the third exit from the roundabout on to the A338
- Remain on the A338 to the Ashley Heath Roundabout with the A31
- Take the first exit for the A31 westbound towards Ringwood (traffic for Ringwood take the third exit to join the A31 eastbound)
National Highways has warned motorists of significant delays, with traffic being held on the A31 between Stoney Cross and Picket Post for more than 45 minutes on Saturday evening. The traffic stretched back several miles towards the M27 at Cadnam. A lane closure remained in place on Sunday before the stretch was closed westbound.
As previously reported by the Bournemouth Echo, Yajaira Castro Mendez’s disappearance has been under investigation by the Metropolitan Police. The discovery of a body in the Bolderwood area has led to the A31 closure, with Hampshire Police leading the incident.
The Bournemouth Echo understands that the investigation is ongoing, with detectives working to confirm the identity of the body found on Saturday. Motorists are advised to check for updates on the A31 closure and plan their journeys accordingly. National Highways has stated that it will provide updates on the closure and diversion route as necessary.
The incident has caused significant disruption to traffic in the area, with motorists experiencing delays and congestion. The Bournemouth Echo will continue to provide updates on the investigation and the A31 closure as more information becomes available.
