News M20 closed coast bound at Junction 8

Maidstone Borough Council is urging Maidstone residents and businesses to check before they travel as Junction 8 of the M20 has been closed coast bound overnight due to the continued disruption at the Port of Dover.

All drivers planning to travel in or through Kent are being advised to plan ahead, follow diversion signs, check before they travel and leave plenty of extra time for their journey. In addition, those travelling to the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel should check with their operator before setting out and should pack some food and water in case they are delayed.

Cllr David Burton, Leader of Maidstone Borough Council said:

“Once again traffic disruption at the Port of Dover impacts all of us in Kent and now with Operation Brock being extended this will affect Maidstone residents and businesses. It is so disruptive to the people who live and visit the Maidstone area and we are constantly lobbying for a permanent solution.  This situation cannot be allowed to continue.”

“I can’t stress enough how important it is to plan your journeys, follow any diversion routes and make sure you take enough water and food with you if you are driving through Kent.”

The Kent Resilience Forum (KRF) took the decision to implement additional traffic management measures alongside Operation Brock which will include:

*     National Highways will implement a closure for all traffic on the M20 coast bound carriageway between J8-9 to ensure EU-bound uses Operation Brock. This will help reduce disruption for other road users and the other roads in Kent.

*        All port bound HGVs to join the Operation Brock queue at junction 8.

*        All other coast bound traffic will be diverted off the M20 and on to the A20/A28/B229/A2042/A2070/A20 to re-join the M20 at junction 11.

Anyone travelling to the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel at Folkestone should check with their operator before setting out and should pack some food and water in case they are delayed.

These additional measures will be kept under review and drivers are advised to check before they travel:

National Highways travel alerts: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates/travel-alerts/

National Highways Operation Brock travel alerts: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates/travel-alerts/m20-kent-coastbound-operation-brock-carriageway-closed/

Operation Brock webpage: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates/operation-brock/

Kent Resilience Forum News: https://www.kentprepared.org.uk/all-news

Drivers can keep up to date by following the news or from the following Twitter services:

@HighwaysSEAST

Kent Police: @kent_police

Port of Dover: @PoD_travelnews

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle: @LeShuttle

Kent County Council: @KentHighways

The Kent Resilience Forum and Maidstone Borough Council thanks the people of Kent and others affected by this ongoing disruption for their continued patience.

Image is of Operation Brock in May 2022

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