Dover, Kent, UK: The steel barrier on the M20 in Kent, installed last year as part of Operation Brock, is to be removed says Highways England.
The removal of the barrier, which starts on Monday, 13 January is good news for drivers. It means that three full width lanes at the national speed limit will soon be restored on the London-bound M20 at the end of the month.
The barrier has been in place on a 15-mile section of the M20 between junctions 8 (for Maidstone) and 9 (at Ashford) since March 2019, reflecting the risk of potential traffic disruption during this period. Now that the risk has lowered, Highways England has agreed with the Kent Resilience Forum and the Department for Transport it is the right time to take the barrier down.
Heidi Skinner, policy Manager for the southeast, Freight Transport Association, welcomed the removal of the Operation Brock barriers but called on government to develop a permanent solution to Operation Stack which can effectively manage freight traffic during cross Channel disruptions.
“In the view of our members, it is crucial for all logistics vehicles to be ‘border-ready’ before entering Kent to avoid additional delays. And, until the threat of a No Deal Brexit is completely off the table, FTA is still advising its members to make all necessary preparations to ensure the industry can keep Britain trading,” she said.
Full details of the closures, including diversion routes, can be found on the M20 junctions 8 to 9 temporary solution web page.
