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Operation Brock: No-deal Brexit M20 plan to be stood down | Operation Brock: No-deal Brexit M20 plan to be stood down |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A plan to manage traffic congestion on a motorway in the event of a no-deal Brexit is to be stood down after coming into force on Monday morning. | A plan to manage traffic congestion on a motorway in the event of a no-deal Brexit is to be stood down after coming into force on Monday morning. |
Operation Brock in Kent sees one side of the M20 being used only by HGVs heading to cross-Channel ports. | Operation Brock in Kent sees one side of the M20 being used only by HGVs heading to cross-Channel ports. |
All other traffic is restricted to a contraflow system on the opposite carriageway. | All other traffic is restricted to a contraflow system on the opposite carriageway. |
Work to deactivate the system between Maidstone and Ashford has begun, Highways England said. | |
The agency had previously said the contraflow takes about 48 hours to both activate and deactivate. | The agency had previously said the contraflow takes about 48 hours to both activate and deactivate. |
The decision by the Department of Transport to stand Operation Brock down comes following the agreement of a Brexit extension. | The decision by the Department of Transport to stand Operation Brock down comes following the agreement of a Brexit extension. |
To make the changes, Highways England has closed the M20 between junctions seven and nine to coastbound traffic until 06:00 GMT on Wednesday. | |
Diversions are in place and Wednesday will see lanes on the coastbound M20 operating at national speed limit and two narrow lanes London-bound at 50mph. | |
This means Operation Brock can be activated again quickly if it is needed in the coming months, it added. | This means Operation Brock can be activated again quickly if it is needed in the coming months, it added. |
Operation Brock is designed to keep the M20 open in both directions in case there is disruption to services across the English Channel. | Operation Brock is designed to keep the M20 open in both directions in case there is disruption to services across the English Channel. |
Lorries heading for Europe would be restricted to 30mph between junctions eight (Maidstone) and nine (Ashford) on the coastbound carriageway of the M20. | Lorries heading for Europe would be restricted to 30mph between junctions eight (Maidstone) and nine (Ashford) on the coastbound carriageway of the M20. |
All other traffic on the motorway - including lorries carrying out UK deliveries - would use a 50mph contraflow of two lanes in each direction on the London-bound side of the road, while Operation Brock is in force. | All other traffic on the motorway - including lorries carrying out UK deliveries - would use a 50mph contraflow of two lanes in each direction on the London-bound side of the road, while Operation Brock is in force. |
The system was last put in place in March, four days ahead of the first planned Brexit date, but was deactivated three weeks later. | The system was last put in place in March, four days ahead of the first planned Brexit date, but was deactivated three weeks later. |