The M20 has been affected by Brexit planning because it runs to Folkestone and serves the Channel Tunnel. At Folkestone, the motorway becomes the A20 and continues to Dover and is, therefore, a key route for freight and cargo moving in and out of the UK.

Why is the M20 in Kent closed?

For two weeks, the M20 will be shut so that barriers installed in case of a no-deal Brexit can be removed.

The motorway was closed between junctions seven and nine on Monday from 8pm and reopened at 6am this morning.

The London-bound carriageway between junctions seven and nine will be closed overnight for 15 nights from Tuesday.

During that time, diversions will be in place to aid motorists.

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Because of its key freight route to the port of Dover, the M20 has been subject to Operation Brock which was installed in March to prepare for the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Under Operation Brock, one carriageway was to be reserved for HGVs heading to Dover, with all other traffic restricted to a contraflow system on the opposite side.

The operation’s purpose was to deal with tailbacks caused by any customs delays experienced in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Brock replaced Operation Stack, which was devised to deal with tailbacks in the event of ferries or the Channel Tunnel temporarily not being able to run.

The removal of the barriers on the M20 will return the 50.6-mile long motorway to its normal state.

A Highways England spokesman said the organisation was “in constant contact with the government and our partners in Kent about when and how the barrier should be removed and will have more information soon”.

Highways England will work to remove almost a mile of barriers every night.

The M20 contraflow has caused traffic chaos in Kent since its installation and cost £30 million.

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The Kent Resilience Forum, which co-ordinated contingency plans across the county, was told by the government last week to stop working on preparations in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

This is because, according to the Government, the risk of a no-deal Brexit has now decreased.

The chances of a no-deal Brexit reduced drastically since the passing of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in the House of Commons last week.

Highways England project director Nicky Potts said:  “Removing the Operation Brock barrier is good news for drivers and the people of Kent and reflects the decreased risk of disruption to cross-channel services in the coming months.” 

Operation Brock was stood down when Brexit was delayed last year, leaving coast-bound traffic free to use all three lanes as normal.

But metal barriers were left in place, so London-bound traffic was restricted to two narrow lanes with a 50mph speed limit.

Natalie Chapman, Freight Transport Association head of policy for the south of England, told Kent Online: “It’s welcome news for everyone who lives and works in the county.

“There will be a little pain before the M20 gets fully back to normal as we’ll see some overnight closures but the pain is going to be well worth it.”

Speaking to the BBC, Ashford MP Damian Green said he was “delighted” the “wretched barriers” were being removed.

Mr Green said: “It’s been a miserable place to be driving for the past nine months or so and so everyone will welcome it going away.”

He added it would be “ludicrous” to leave it in place until the government had agreed a deal with EU leaders.

Mr Green said the reinstallation of the barriers was “always there as an option” should Brexit, or another cause, “impede cross Channel traffic to the extent we have to bring Brock back”.

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