Live test of EU exit contingency plans starts Friday 11 December 2020
Next week we are testing the moveable barrier that will help keep traffic moving in Kent when there’s cross-Channel disruption.
The test, which we’re carrying out with our partners in the Kent Resilience Forum, will start on Friday 11 December. It means parts of the motorway between Maidstone and Ashford will be closed for four nights, with signed diversions in place.
The barrier will be used to create a new layout on the M20 with a contraflow system which allows traffic to travel in both directions of the motorway at the same time as port bound lorries are held when required on the coastbound carriageway until they can travel through to the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel.
The barrier is part of Operation Brock, a series of measures that will keep the M20 open in both directions during periods of cross-Channel disruption. During the test the barrier will be installed and then removed.
To make sure the barrier is deployed and removed safely, the M20 will be closed in both directions between junction 7 (for Maidstone) and junction 9 (Ashford) overnight (8pm to 8am) on Friday 11, Saturday 12, Sunday 13, and Monday 14 December. The motorway will return to normal by 8am on Tuesday 15 December. Whenever the M20 is closed, signed diversions will be in place.
At the end of the test the barrier will be returned to the London-bound hard shoulder.
We are also closing parts of the M20 for a few nights before the test to get ready for it. We won’t be closing both sides of the motorway at the same time on these nights. The tables below show when we’re doing this:
Overnight closures London bound junction 9 to 8
Start -9pm |
End - 6am |
30 November 2020 |
04 December 2020 – Pre-deployment set up |
08 December 2020 |
11 December 2020 – contingency pre-deployment |
Overnight closures Coast bound junction 7 to 9
Start -9pm |
End - 6am |
07 December 2020 |
10 December 2020 |
Trial deployment (11 December to 15 December 2020) - London bound and Coast bound junction 7 to 9 overnight closures
Closure |
Start - 8pm |
End - 8am |
Full closure junction 7 to 9 Coast bound and junction 9 to 8 London bound |
11 December 2020 |
13 December 2020 |
Full closure junction 7 to 9 Coast bound |
13 December 2020 |
14 December 2020 |
Full closure junction 9 to 8 London bound |
14 December 2020 |
15 December 2020 |
What will happen during the test?
Activating the test - first stage free flow contraflow
The M20 will close in both directions overnight between junctions 7 and 9 on Friday 11 December for the installation of the moveable barrier.
When the M20 reopens by 8am on Saturday 12 December, the contraflow will be in place in its initial phase. Drivers will need to follow the different layout on the M20 from just north of Junction 8 (for Hollingbourne/Leeds) to Junction 9 (Ashford). Lorries heading for mainland Europe will be routed down the coastbound carriageway, with a 30mph speed limit in place. All other traffic will be directed onto the contraflow, with two lanes in each direction operating at 50mph. We aim to finish our overnight work as early as we can and re-open the motorway as soon as safely possible.
View a diagram of first stage free flow contraflow
Final stage free flow contraflow
The M20 will close in both directions overnight between junctions 7 and 9 on Saturday 12 December and reopen by 8am on Sunday 13 December with the contraflow open in its final phase.
View a diagram of the final stage free flow contraflow
Active contraflow
During the active contraflow, port-bound HGVs in the coastbound carriageway may be held and released upon demand from the Channel Ports.
View a diagram of the active contraflow
Deactivating the test
The M20 will close overnight between junctions 7 and 9 at 8pm on Sunday 13 December for removal of traffic management on the coastbound carriageway.
When the M20 reopens by 8am on Monday 14 December, the coastbound carriageway will be back to normal, with all traffic management removed. The London-bound carriageway will be open but some traffic management – including the moveable barrier – will still be in place. Speed restrictions will apply. The London-bound carriageway will be closed overnight between junctions 7 and 9 at 8pm on Monday 14 December with the moveable barrier being moved to the far side of the hard shoulder.
The London-bound M20 will reopen by 8am on Tuesday 15 December, with the M20 back to its normal layout in both directions, with three lanes operating at the national speed limit.
View a diagram of the normal traffic flow
Diversion routes
Vehicles over 4.7m high need to follow a different route, which is to leave at junction 7 and join the M2 then take the A2, the A20 and rejoin the M20 at junction 9.
This work has been planned with Kent Resilience Forum partners, including Kent Police and Kent County Council.
View diversion route map
Read descriptions of the contraflows used in the test
Check before you travel
Please check our roadworks page before you plan any journeys or for changes in our programme. You can also find travel information on:
Please contact us on 0300 123 5000 or reach the M20 Project Team direct at M20MoveableBarrier@highwaysengland.co.uk. We will be glad to assist you.
You can also follow us on twitter @HighwaysSEAST
We would like to thank you in advance for your understanding, patience and support during these essential works.