Operation Brock to be deployed on M20

Operation Brock will see lorries heading to Dover queue on one side of the M20

A traffic-holding system for lorries queueing to cross the English Channel is to be deployed.

Operation Brock will see lorries heading to Dover queue on one side of the M20, with the other carriageway operating as a contraflow between junctions 8 and 9.

The barrier will be deployed overnight, meaning the contraflow will be in place from Thursday, the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF) said.

The KMRF said the system minimised congestion and that its work to find a permanent solution was ongoing.

A formal review of whether the barrier needs to stay will take place in the first week of August.

Data from the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel showed high volumes of passenger traffic was expected every weekend of July.

KMRF strategic lead for border disruption, Simon Jones, said: "The decision to put the Op Brock barrier out is made to keep disruption for Kent residents to a minimum and always led by on the number of passenger and freight crossings expected at the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel.

"Our work with central government to identify a better traffic management solution will continue, alongside our around-the-clock traffic monitoring so everyone can get to where they need to be safely this summer."

The decision to use Operation Brock is made collectively by the KMRF, a partnership of agencies including Kent Police, Kent County Council and National Highways.

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