M20 Closures Scheduled to Dismantle Lorry Traffic Management System

Kent will experience overnight road closures to dismantle a system designed to manage traffic for lorries awaiting passage across the English Channel. Specific segments of the M20 motorway are slated for overnight closure, commencing Sunday and extending into Monday, for the purpose of taking down the Operation Brock contraflow system. The motorway will be inaccessible to London-bound traffic between junctions nine and eight, and to coastbound traffic from junction seven (Maidstone/Sittingbourne) to junction nine (Ashford). These closures are scheduled to commence at 20:00 GMT on Sunday and conclude at 06:00 on Monday. This 13-mile (21km) arrangement involves lorries bound for Dover forming queues on one side of the M20, while the opposing carriageway functions as a contraflow, accommodating traffic moving in both directions. The system has been operational between junctions eight (Maidstone) and nine (Ashford) since 16 December, implemented to manage expected large volumes of passengers during the Christmas holiday period. Detour routes will be established, and National Highways has recommended that motorists adhere to road signs instead of relying on satellite navigation directions. Sean Martell, who serves as National Highways’ head of service delivery for the South East, stated: “Our job is to keep the country moving and while Operation Brock helps us to do that, it wouldn’t be as effective without the patience and understanding of those living and working locally.” “We appreciate people’s support and we only implement and remove the contraflow when we believe the traffic conditions and intelligence we have around activity at the channel crossings supports those decisions.” BBC Kent can be followed on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas may be submitted to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 08081 002250. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external sites. Details on their approach to external linking are available.