Goodbye to Brock contraflow - but Stack may return

Bad weather may trigger queue measures

Transport chiefs say they could revert to using Operation Stack to manage disruption on the M20 - but only as a last resort.

Highways England says it would rely on a series of measures to cope with delays caused by bad weather across the Channel or industrial action - and that could mean implementing a version of Operation Stack.

It comes as Highways England continues to dismantle the controversial Operation Brock contraflow along the M20 between Ashford and Maidstone.

The 15-mile stretch of the motorway was restricted to two lanes with a 50mph speed restriction in February, in anticipation of chaos from a no-deal Brexit.

Highways England said a version of Operation Brock would continue to be made available.

However, given the time needed to implement the barrier, its potential use is limited.

In a statement, it said: “With the barrier removed it would take around four weeks to deploy it again, which will limit the circumstances where it would be an appropriate solution.”

Asked what measures would be taken in the event of disruption at the border or channel ports, it said: “The steel barrier forms just one part of the traffic management systems available to manage border disruption.

“There remains a range of measures in place to manage the flow of traffic including the new additional capacity at the ports, the use of Dover Tap on the A20.

“Operation Stack would only be used as a last resort.”

The scheme involves holding lorries on the M20 coastbound at different points, with the second phase closing it to traffic between Maidstone and Ashford.

Up to 3,000 HGVs can be held on the motorway.

In 2015, it remained in place for 37 days,with the lockdown costing the economy an estimated £250m.

During port disruption from strong winds earlier this month, lorries queued up on the A20 and A2 while police managed flow into the port of Dover.

The cost of Operation Brock to date has been put at around £30m but that figure excludes the costs of taking it down.

Meanwhile, it is unclear if the Manston airport site in Thanet could come into play.

Under Operation Brock, the Department for Transport paid several million pounds to retain it as a potential holding area for HGVs once capacity on the M20 was exhausted.

Operation Stack, as seen here in 2015, may be implemented now Operation Brock has gone

The dreaded barrier is being removed from the M20