M20 Motorway Fully Reopened After Operation Brock System Deactivated

A traffic management system on the M20, designed to hold lorries queuing for English Channel crossings, has been removed. Operation Brock is typically activated when heavy traffic volumes are anticipated for vehicles traveling through Kent towards the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel. This system had been implemented on a 13-mile (20.9km) section of the motorway, specifically between junctions eight (Maidstone) and nine (Ashford), from December 15 to December 22. To facilitate the removal of these controls, the motorway underwent an overnight closure, commencing at 20:00 GMT on Sunday and reopening at 06:00 on Monday. Operation Brock’s purpose is to mitigate traffic disruption by directing lorries bound for mainland Europe onto the motorway’s coastbound carriageway. Under this arrangement, one side of the carriageway is designated for the lorry queue, while the other accommodates a contraflow system. While Operation Brock was in effect, a 50mph speed limit was enforced. However, upon the motorway’s reopening, all three lanes became accessible, and the national speed limit of 70mph was reinstated. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.