Here we go again...

Drivers braced for more traffic hell as dreaded M20 contraflow to return ‘Chaos’ averted at Junction 10 as sliproads to remain open... for now

Operation Brock will be reactivated on the M20 later this month, sparking traffic misery in both directions between Ashford and Maidstone.

Motorists faced three weeks of frustration earlier this year when the coastbound side of the motorway between Junctions 8 and 9 was used only by HGVs heading to Dover, with all other traffic restricted to a 50mph contraflow system on the London-bound carriageway.

Highways England lifted the restrictions in April when the Brexit deadline was pushed back until the end of October, but the steel barrier and narrow lanes on the London-bound stretch have remained in place ever since.

Now the Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed the contraflow will be reintroduced from 6am on Monday, October 28 - three days before the Brexit deadline.

HGV drivers heading for Dover will have to put up with a 30mph limit on the coastbound stretch, while all other traffic must use the 50mph contraflow on the London-bound side of the M20.

The contraflow is designed to tackle disruption caused by delays at the border, but drivers raised fears over the safety of the narrow lanes earlier this year, with all London-bound traffic having to use the hard shoulder and first lane.

In a statement, the DfT said: “Operation Brock will go live on October 28 to manage any traffic disruption and help keep trade moving in and out of the UK.

“The government has worked closely with the Kent Resilience Forum to implement the scheme, which will manage any delays to Europe-bound freight while protecting local roads from disruption.

“It will keep the M20 open in both directions for all other traffic, minimising any impacts on residents.”

In a no deal Brexit scenario, Operation Brock will play a vital role in minimising the impact of any disruption on routes to the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel.

The DfT says motorists will begin to see ‘changes in roads infrastructure’ from Saturday, October 26 when Highways England will close the M20 between Junctions 7 to 9 overnight on the London-bound carriageway.

They say the closure is to carry out necessary construction work so Operation Brock can be active from October 28.

Operation Brock - which is Highways England’s post-Brexit answer to Operation Stack - consists of four phases, with the contraflow being the second phase after the Dover TAP scheme.

It could also involve thousands of lorries being diverted to Manston and finally the M26 could be used to park lorries.

Earlier this year, it was revealed how hundreds of drivers of foreign-registered vehicles got away with speeding in the contraflow.

Operation Brock will be implemented on the M20 at the end of the month