Stand by for Operation Brock

Highways England has closed a 16 mile section of the M20, and is working overnight to be ready to activate the new Operation Brock contraflow at 06.00 on Monday 28th October 2019. The Traffic England website and CCTV cameras showed the M20 closed in both directions between J7 (Maidstone) and J9 (Ashford) on Friday evening. The M20 is due to reopen at 06.00 on Saturday. If necessary, the motorway will be closed again from 20.00 until 06.00 on Saturday night. Although the Operation Brock contraflow is designed to keep the M20 open in both directions between J8 and J9, this scheme is also likely to cause severe disruption to local traffic in Kent, especially for villages along the A20. However, from past experience of Operation Stack in 2015, once HGV drivers decide to leave the trunk routes their sat navs will prompt them to take unsuitable cross-country routes to Dover.

A section of the A2 between Whitfield and the A258 near Dover docks is also closed this evening. Highways England's Operation Brock web pages contain lengthy instructions for all drivers of all classes of vehicles. Highways England advises that 'if you are travelling in Kent while Operation Brock is active you should allow more time for your journeys. It's also a good idea to make sure you take some food and water in your vehicle in case you are delayed.'