M20 motorway closure to remove contraflow in time for Christmas

The Operation Brock contraflow system on the M20 in Kent will be lifted this weekend, meaning sections of the M20 will be closed overnight on Sunday into Monday to facilitate the removal of the contraflow.

The contraflow has been in place on a 13-mile section of the M20 between junctions 8 (Maidstone east) and 9 (Ashford) since Monday (December 16), as a contingency measure to help keep traffic moving across the region when there are high passenger numbers or disruption to services across the channel.

To safely remove the contraflow, the M20 will be closed – London bound between junctions 9 – 8 and coastbound from junctions 7 (Maidstone/Sittingbourne) – 9 (Ashford). 

The closures will be in place from 8pm on Sunday (December 22) to 6am on Mon (December 23). These times have been chosen to minimise disruption to road users and ensure the diversion routes are suitable for traffic.

While the M20 is closed to remove Operation Brock, clearly signed diversion routes will be in place and all drivers are advised to follow the diversion signs over Satnav instructions.

Once removed, both carriageways will re-open with three lanes and the national speed limit back in place.

Sean Martell, head of service delivery for the south-east at National Highways, said: “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.

“With our partners at the Kent Resilience Forum we believe now is the right time to remove Operation Brock and the M20 should be operating normally by 6am on Monday morning.”